fall back on

Idioms  

1. Also, fall back upon. Rely on, have recourse to, as in I fall back on old friends in time of need, or When he lost his job he had to fall back upon his savings. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

This kind of logistical challenge is something Mark Graham has decades of experience to fall back on.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

And now, when Smith doesn’t get a call, he has ABS to fall back on.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

He has his summer job from last year, as a dock hand for a ferry, to fall back on, he said, but that’s not quite the same.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

"Obviously here I've had great success over the last few years. I can fall back on that tomorrow in any scenario starting out."

From Barron's • Jan. 18, 2026

When my mother was angry she’d fall back on her home language.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah