Backseat driver

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual
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Meaning: Someone who gives unwanted advice, especially about driving.

爱给别人提不需要的建议的人,尤其是关于开车。
Alguien que da consejos no solicitados, especialmente sobre conducir.
特に運転について余計な口出しをする人。
특히 운전에 대해 참견하는 사람

A passenger who criticizes the driver or tells them what to do—extended to anyone who gives unwanted advice about tasks they're not actually doing.

批评司机或指挥司机的乘客——也泛指对自己没有实际参与的事情给出不需要建议的人。
Un pasajero que critica al conductor o le dice qué hacer, extendido a cualquiera que da consejos no deseados sobre tareas que no está haciendo.
運転手を批判したり指示したりする同乗者。実際にやっていない仕事について余計なアドバイスをする人全般にも使われる。
운전자를 비판하거나 이래라저래라 하는 동승자를 말하며, 자신이 직접 하지 않는 일에 대해 참견하는 사람으로 의미가 확장되었다.

Literal meaning: Driver from the backseat

Examples

  1. Stop being a backseat driver!
    别瞎指挥了!
    ¡Deja de dar indicaciones desde atrás!
    口出しをやめろ!
    그만 참견 좀 해!
  2. My mother-in-law is such a backseat driver.
    我婆婆特别爱瞎指挥
    Mi suegra es una copilota insufrible
    義母は本当に口出しが多い
    우리 장모님은 정말 참견이 심하다.
  3. He's a backseat driver at work too—always criticizing.
    他在工作中也爱瞎指挥,老是批评别人
    En el trabajo también es un metiche, siempre criticando
    彼は仕事でも口出しが多い、いつも批判している
    그는 직장에서도 참견쟁이야. 항상 비판만 한다.

Pronunciation

/ˈbæksiːt ˈdraɪvə/

Usage Guide

Context: driving, criticism, interference

Tone: annoyed, critical

✓ Do Say

  • Such a backseat driver.
    真是个瞎指挥的人
    Menudo copiloto pesado
    本当に口出しが多い
    정말 참견쟁이야.
  • Stop backseat driving!
    别瞎指挥了!
    ¡Deja de dar indicaciones!
    口出しをやめろ!
    참견 좀 그만해!
  • Backseat driver at work.
    工作中的瞎指挥
    Copiloto pesado en el trabajo
    仕事での口出し屋
    직장에서도 참견쟁이.

✗ Don't Say

  • Giving unwanted advice
    Giving unwanted advice(给不需要的建议)
    Giving unwanted advice (dar consejos no pedidos)
    Giving unwanted advice(余計なアドバイスをする)
    쓸데없는 조언을 하다
  • Criticizing from the side
    Criticizing from the side(从旁边批评)
    Criticizing from the side (criticar desde fuera)
    Criticizing from the side(横から批判する)
    옆에서 비판하다

Common Mistakes

Origin & History

From passengers in the back seat giving unsolicited driving advice.

Etymology: American, early 20th century

First recorded: 1920s

Cultural Context

Era: 1920s to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Everyday expression; Work situations

Regional notes: Universal English term.

Variations

Backseat driverBackseat drivingBack-seat driver

Related Phrases

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