Similar to being stabbed in the back, except some peoplelike that sort of thing - they just wish they had some prior notice first.
"Man, you really got boned in the back when your girlfriend cheated on you with her best friend."
"Yeah, the least she could've done was videotaped it so I'd have something to watch tonight."
My boss has a Jellyfish backbone.
She speaks of standards and holding employeesaccountable for results. But, every time she has the chance to prove her statement she makes excuses and does nothing.
2)the "behind the scenes" guy(s) of an outfit or group who do a signficant contribution to something but don't get as much recognition. Second only to the heart and soul.
1) You've got to grow a backbone if you don't want to become the one who gets trampled over in the end.
2) If she's the heart and soul of the group, then those two are the backbone of it.