A private or secondary staircase at the back of a building; also used figuratively to mean secret, underhanded, or conducted in a sneaky manner.
Back + stairs; plural form of backstair. The figurative meaning developed because 'backstairs' became associated with hidden dealings and secret activities.
The phrase 'backstairs intrigue' became synonymous with court conspiracies and political scheming—because historically, real plots were literally carried out on back stairs where servants and secret allies could meet without being observed!
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