From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe backbone of somethingthe backbone of somethingMAINthe most important part of an organization or group of people Farmers are the backbone of this community. → backbone
Examples from the Corpus
the backbone of something• The battle of wills between them forms the backbone of the story.• Farmers' activities, which are the backbone of the rural economy, are vital to the survival of whole communities.• While Caesar stressed that grazing combined with fishing and hunting constituted the backbone of the Germanic economy.• Volunteers such as the receptionist form the backbone of the hospice and volunteer sitters have been helping for five years.• The cocoa industry is the backbone of Ghana's economy.• Digital was the backbone of Galway.• McQueen - Ditto Currie - Along with the two above were the backbone of Armfield's team. 