hey,

my English teacher (native Scot) told me that you don't say "on the back side of", because backside means ... . I know what backside means, but I've also never heard anyone complaining about "on the back side". Or what is the opposite of "front side"? Although we're meant to learn just these minor differences between what you say and what you don't (e.g. very exhausted - utterly exhausted).

And since I didn't want to discuss so much about it in class I thought I'd better ask it here. Maybe it is something only Scots don't say?

Greetings and thanks,
Joey

Isn't it just "back of"?
Front side and the back. Rear side?

when you are talking about something with length eg. a car, a train, plane etc something long, front/rear is ok. But on 2sided polygon, it's not rear side, it's "back" side.

There's nothing wrong with using "back side" as you say. Just because it's a euphemism for arse, doesn't mean its actual meaning is taken away.

Besides, I hardly ever hear "back side" used in the context your teacher suggests anymore -- it's just not necessary to euphemise it that way these days.

Jibb

i guess as a native of america and not england i am not sure if backside is "not" acceptable here. i have heard "in the rear of", "in back of", and "on the back side of something" in conversations. i dont know how certain phrases are taught in esl classes. america is such a slang heavy place, from state to state the dialogue can be different, even accents. good luck.

Ah, that has helped me, thanks folks!

it also depends on the maturity of the person. its just a coincental two word mixture that makes something "unacceptable" but most people dont care about. the only people that point it out and care are the same people that giggle at the term "homo erectus" knowing fully what it actually means.

lol. yes, maybe she's someone like that.