gistfile1.js

var obj = {
  blake: 20,
  andrew: 10,
  matt: 45
};

var annotated = _.map(obj, function (value, key) {
  return {key: key, value: value};
});

var names = _.pluck(_.sortBy(annotated, 'value'), 'key');

In a perfect world where underscore is curried, this would work. Also, pretend _.at exists:

var sortByKey = _.compose(_.object, _.sortBy(_.rest), _.pairs);

sortByKey(obj);

As it stands now, chaining will have to do :(

console.log(_.chain(obj)
        .pairs()
        .sortBy(function(val){ return -val[1]})
        .object()
        .value())

@kaw2k - Niiiice. That's exactly the combo I'd figured I'd missed. I might argue that the sortBy piece is easier to reason about when you're sorting by a keyname - like value. But yours is definitely more compact.

And that curried version is tasty.

(Also, I think you meant _.values().)