backbenches

IPA/ˌbækˈbentʃ/
IPA/ˌbækˈbentʃ/

backbenches — 名詞

  • backbenchesplural

1. the seats at the back of the British House of Commons where Members of Parliamen

1.名詞B2
釋義

後座席位

英國國會非部長級議員的座位

the seats at the back of the British House of Commons where Members of Parliament who hold no ministerial or senior opposition position sit

例句

After losing his cabinet position, Tunde returned to the backbenches as a regular MP.

Tunde 在失去內閣職位後，回歸後座席位擔任普通議員。

return to the backbenches — from ministerial role

The backbenches grew quiet when the prime minister entered the chamber for questions.

首相走進議事廳準備答詢時，後座席位一片靜默。

backbenches as collective subject of a verb

反義詞
  • front bench

    the seats where government ministers and shadow cabinet members sit

文法句型

on the backbenches

return to the backbenches

from the backbenches

spend time on the backbenches

用法筆記

Always used in the plural form. Common in British political news and parliamentary reporting. The singular 'backbench' exists only as an adjective (e.g., 'backbench MP').

常見錯誤

❌He spent years on the backbench.
✅He spent years on the backbenches.
💡'backbenches' is always plural as a noun, even when referring to a single person's position.
❌The backbencher raised the issue from his seat.
✅The MP raised the issue from the backbenches.
💡'backbenches' refers to the seats or the position, not the person.