back water

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]

Related Words

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