Backstopped

In their heyday, automakers and steel companies laid off workers as demand dipped, but backstopped by powerful labor unions, those workers were regularly recalled as demand and production revved up again. ❋ Andy Kroll (2010)

He said that if there isn't a definitive statement that the ministers will expand the fund, which has backstopped struggling euro-zone countries during the crisis, the euro could move lower against major currencies and reverse last week's gains. ❋ Chana R. Schoenberger (2011)

Indeed, we cannot think of another year when a 17-year-old goalie backstopped his club to the championship. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The need for an unavailable supermajority in the Senate backstopped by the power of White House vetoes precludes that. ❋ Jim Jaffe (2010)

The program was backstopped by the now-defunct Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. ❋ Luca Di Leo (2011)

He has pushed for the ECB to stand behind the currency union more forcefully, much as the Federal Reserve backstopped financial firms during the U.S. crisis. ❋ Sudeep Reddy (2011)

More recently, they have backstopped regional subsidiaries of Greek banks to ensure the region was not hit hard by the financial meltdown in that country. ❋ Howard Schneider (2010)

Under this last option, the Administration envisages a group of tightly regulated, well-capitalized private mortgage insurers whose policies would be backstopped by government reinsurance. ❋ Unknown (2011)

"The agency had backstopped my cover," Mr. Holm writes, "but only minimally." ❋ Charles McCarry (2011)

The Americans backstopped everyone but forced banks to merge, bailed them out and then required them to raise large amounts of capital. ❋ Diane Francis (2011)

In Harrisburg, bankruptcy proponents favor taking a tougher line with the state, bondholders and the insurance companies that have backstopped the city's debt. ❋ Michael Corkery (2011)

Without a solution to the euro-zone crisis, it is hard to see banks rushing to lend even if their financing is backstopped. ❋ Richard Barley (2011)

The U.S. Treasury backstopped the industry as investors fled, a move now forbidden by the Dodd-Frank law. ❋ Jon Hilsenrath (2011)

But it writes policies for less than 10% of the market, down from pre-crisis levels when insurers backstopped half the market. ❋ Andrew Ackerman (2011)

It's also worth noting that, though he backstopped the Devils to three Stanley Cups, Brodeur has never won the Conn Smythe Award as the NHL's postseason most-valuable player. ❋ Mike Sielski (2011)

Banks and insurers, effectively backstopped by the U.S. government, could also face downgrades and find it more costly to borrow money. ❋ Tom Lauricella (2011)

The [trains] and the platform were [packed], so I backstopped, and got on the next train [no problemo]. ❋ Dozr (2007)

Hey man, I wouldn't put more [paper] towels on that without [washing] it first... i used that as my [billy backstop]. ❋ Cpt. Bananas (2009)

I took [my lady] to [Toxic Hell] last night and gave her a [Chicago Backstop] later. ❋ Sgt Harding (2008)

Have I told you about my [7th grade] [Remedial] [English teacher]? She ought to be the backstop of a football team. ❋ Baron Bernardino (2008)

"OMG, I just walked in on [Colleen] doing the Irish [backstop] with [Seamus]!" ❋ The Olc-Glas (2018)

[Gave] my [mrs] [the old Irish backstop] last night ❋ Things That Annoy Me 161 (2019)