| Subject | English | Russian |
| dipl. | be seen as a knife in the back | рассматриваться как удар ножом в спину (USA Today; контекстуальный перевод Alex_Odeychuk) |
| fig. | knife in the back | сделать что-то за спиной (Dyatlova Natalia) |
| gen. | knife in the back | кинжал в спину (A grievous or supreme act of treachery or betrayal. (Usually preceding "of/for (someone).") This revelation regarding the governor's longstanding misappropriation of public funds is sure to be a knife in the back of his constituency, as well as every taxpayer in the state.  thefreedictionary.com Alexander Demidov) |
| fig. | knife in the back | пырнуть ножом в спину (Dyatlova Natalia) |
| idiom. | put knife in the back | всадить нож в спину (Самурай) |