Backseat Driver (Origin)

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

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).

Read more about hyphens in compound adjectives.

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