撑腰 (chēngyāo) support; back up

Usage:

“撑腰”的意思是撑住人的腰部使其直立，比喻给予有力的支持。口语中常用的结构有：有某人/某群体、组织撑腰；给/为某人撑腰等。
The literal meaning of "撑腰(chēngyāo)" is to make somebody stand straight by supporting his waist. It is a metaphor for supporting somebody or backing somebody up. The common structures in oral Chinese are: “有 someone/organization/group 撑腰 (chēngyāo)；给/为 somebody 撑腰 (chēngyāo)”, etc.

Sentences:

1、Zhè jiā lǒngduàn qǐyè yǒu zhèngzhì shìlì chēng yāo, shì gōngkāi de mìmì.
这家垄断企业有政治势力撑腰，是公开的秘密。
It is not a secret that this monopoly enterprise is backed up by political power.

2、Fúwùyuán yǔ gùkè fāshēng zhēngchǎo shí, jīnglǐ bù yīnggāi wèi yuángōng chēngyāo.
服务员与顾客发生争吵时，经理不应该为员工撑腰。
The manager shouldn’t take sides with the waiters when they have an argument with the customers.

原文链接