Backstop

Definitions

1. A proposed seamless border between Ireland and Northern Ireland in the event of Brexit.
   UK
2. An object or a person put in the rear or in the back of something to reinforce, hold, support.
3. A default arrangement that holds if all else fails.
4. A wall or fence behind home plate.
5. A catcher; the position of catcher.
   slang
6. The player who stands immediately behind the striking base.
7. The longstop.
   dated
8. The wicket-keeper.
   dated
9. Something serving to bolster or support a cover story etc.

Equivalents

Examples

“Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar, this morning, said a time-limited backstop would be unacceptable, and has previously promised to vote⟳ down the UK’s Brexit withdrawal deal⟳ unless it features a satisfactory backstop.”

“"The 2½ years since have⟳ been about hammering home these points in any European capital that would listen⟳. And in spite of capacity-sapping talks on the first point⟳ – Brexit, border⟳ and backstop – the Department of Foreign Affairs and other government departments have⟳ been working quietly to make⟳ good on the second.”

“Bench may be the greatest catcher subjectively, but he's not statistically. Statwise, Yogi Berra is the all-time backstop, regardless of which measure⟳ you prefer⟳. Berra's Total-Z is one-third of a standard deviation higher than Bench's, and his Core-Z average is a point⟳ better.”

“[…] to be set⟳ up in Indonesia with a phony book and school supplies company established in New York City as a backstop.”

“Closely representing an alibi, creating a backstop could involve⟳ such measures as having people available to verify the details of an agent's cover⟳ story.”

CEFR level