De ruggengraat
Example: De ruggengraat van onze samenleving is solidariteit en samenwerking.
Definition
"De ruggengraat" refers to the backbone or spine of a person or an organization, symbolizing the main support or core strength. For example, in the phrase "De ruggengraat van onze samenleving is solidariteit en samenwerking," it emphasizes solidarity and cooperation as the fundamental support of society.
Etymology
The term "de ruggengraat" comes from Dutch, literally meaning 'the backbone.' It combines 'rugge,' an old form of 'rug' meaning back, and 'graat,' meaning bone or spine. Did you know? The word vividly captures the idea of something that holds everything upright and strong, much like a backbone in living beings.
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"De ruggengraat" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - (C1) - set 2", containing 116 commonly used words.
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the backbone