Back Seat

Ford's prototype systems worked perfectly, although back-seat passengers had some brief white-knuckle moments. ❋ Joseph B. White (2011)

She was completely worn out by the time she found herself outside the terminal building, sliding her bags into the back-seat of a taxi and climbing in after them. ❋ Jo Nesbo (2011)

More photos and interactive graphics President Barack Obama has based his Libya policy on the notion that the U.S. would take a back-seat role in protecting rebels and civilians from Col. ❋ Julian E. Barnes (2011)

States that take charge of the exchange will be in the driver's seat; those that don't will take a back-seat to the federal government. ❋ Tommy G. Thompson (2011)

Cameron and Osborne dutifully turn up for meetings of the G8, the G20 and the IMF, but are happy to take a back-seat role. ❋ Unknown (2011)

A back-seat passenger in Henry's car also was unhurt, Alagno said. ❋ AP (2010)

After leading the initial attacks in Libya, the U.S. has intentionally taken a back-seat role. ❋ Alistair MacDonald (2011)

Generalissimo Motors introduces the “Chavy Ghadafi” sport coupe – featuring two steering wheels, no brakes and an optional back-seat Castro. ❋ Unknown (2009)

On the ride back to the team hotel, he was a back-seat passenger in a car that veered off the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Arlington. ❋ Steve Goff (2011)

The boy sitting farthest from Fancy in the back-seat had a tattoo of a girl on his arm and was pointing at the pink flamingo staring at him through the window. ❋ Dia Reeves (2011)

Now, the hardware and software to start rolling out a generation of connected cars is almost ready for real-world testing in the U.S. Whether American drivers are ready for a world in which cars send out data on speed and direction 10 times a second and function as automated back-seat drivers is another question. ❋ Joseph B. White (2011)

The October 1972 issue of Popular Mechanics laid out the details: Roof-mounted periscopes; bumpers wide enough to haul Dom Deluise; and in the GM model, a rear-seat “credenza,” so back-seat passengers would be protected in crashes by smacking into a vinyl-covered bosom. ❋ Unknown (2010)

He was not a good driver — and a worse back-seat driver: his adjurations to “keep the revs up” have passed into the family language. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The back-seat room is plenty adequate for adults on short trips; fold the seatbacks down and the 500 can accommodate a month's worth of groceries. ❋ Dan Neil (2011)