back water

Idioms and Phrases

Reverse a position, take back a statement, or otherwise retreat, as in We're sure that the senator will back water on raising taxes . This term literally refers to a vessel that moves backward in the water because its oars, paddles, or paddlewheel are reversed. It soon was transferred to other kinds of reversal. [Second half of 1700s]

Example Sentences

Then, at the whaler's orders, the boat was swung round and the men held their oars ready to back-water.

From Project Gutenberg

We crept at dusk into a shaded back-water, where our keel almost touched the gravel bed.

From Project Gutenberg

With a desperate masterfulness he swept her from their back-water solitude out into the full current.

From Project Gutenberg

The double signal to back water came, and I pushed the lever bar up and down twice before I got my last signal to stop.

From Project Gutenberg

Instead of this, Galileo compelled the entire faculty to back water and dine on fricasseed crow.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abate
• curb
• curtail
• decelerate
• decrease
• diminish
• hinder
• impede
• lag
• lessen
• moderate
• reduce
• relax
• retard
• slacken
• stall
• temper