back water

Idioms  

1. 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

This is often called a "water bomb", where the upstream country can temporarily hold back water and then release it suddenly, without warning, causing massive damage downstream.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2025

The cities will need to carefully treat garbage and other waste materials to get back water and create more soil for farming.

From NewsForKids.net • Feb. 12, 2024

Still, many see agave as a viable alternative as California — which supplies the bulk of the country’s produce — explores ways to cut back water use.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 4, 2023

Fish and Wildlife Service sets minimum water levels to keep endangered c'waam and koptu, or suckerfish, alive, and Reclamation said it will hold back water so it can meet those minimum levels.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2023

I can tell she's imagining an empty bucket drifting down into the dark well and coming back, water sloshing out of its sides like tears.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

Related Words

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