
Somebody's back is turned
Literal Meaning
The phrase can mean someone's back is physically turned away, not just metaphorically.

He whispered the secret while his friend's back was turned.
Sneaky Action
Often used to describe taking a sneaky action without someone noticing.

The cat stole the fish when the owner's back was turned.
Missed Observations
Implies someone missed seeing something important while not looking.

The artist painted a mural when the city's back was turned.
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