1. secret, underhanded, or involving intrigue

1. a stairway at the back or side of a building, typically used by servants

Examples

• The backstairs politics of the administration were finally exposed.
• She used backstairs influence to get the job.
• The servants used the backstairs to move between floors.
• Backstairs gossip spread quickly through the household.
• He climbed the narrow backstairs to avoid the main entrance.
• The backstairs dealings damaged his reputation.
• The old mansion had both grand front stairs and humble backstairs.