Backseat Driver (Origin)

What Is the Origin of the Saying "Backseat Driver"?

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The term "backseat driver" means a person who criticizes from the side lines.

Examples of Use:

He always tells the driver what to do while sitting in the backseat, earning him the nickname "backseat driver".
She can't help but offer unsolicited advice and criticize the driver's every move, making her the ultimate "backseat driver".
He annoys everyone with his constant comments and suggestions on how to drive, proving that he's a typical "backseat driver".
Her habit of backseat driving often leads to tension and arguments during road trips.
Instead of enjoying the ride, he tends to micromanage the driver's decisions, living up to his reputation as a "backseat driver".

This idiom refers to a person who offers unsolicited, unwanted advice to a vehicle driver from a back passenger seat.

Passenger: You're too close to that car in front. And, you're too close to that car behind!
Driver: Yeah, okay, backseat driver!

Nowadays, "backseat driver" is used more widely to refer to anyone who gives unwanted advice from a position of not contributing.

From a grammatical perspective, "backseat" is a compound adjective (a single adjective made up of more than one word). Therefore, the big question is whether to write it as "back seat driver," "backseat driver," or "back-seat driver." The basic rule is as follows:

Use the one-word version if it exists.
If it doesn't exist as one word, use the hyphenated version to make it clear your words are a single grammatical unit (i.e., one adjective).