back-pedal
Americanverb (used without object)
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to retard the forward motion by pressing backward on the pedal, especially of a bicycle with coaster brakes.
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to retreat from or reverse one's previous stand on any matter; shift ground.
to back-pedal after severe criticism.
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Boxing. to retreat from an opponent, especially by stepping rapidly backward.
verb
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to turn the pedals of a bicycle backwards
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to retract or modify a previous opinion, principle, etc
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boxing to take backward steps
Etymology
Origin of back-pedal
First recorded in 1895–1900
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Dendoncker wastefully lifted Matt Doherty’s cutback over the bar from the corner of the six-yard box, and Rúben Neves forced De Gea to quickly back-pedal to hold on to a spectacular volley.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 2, 2019
Carrey isn’t the first actor to back-pedal on a project—but he’s still bringing something new into the mix.
From Time ● Jun. 25, 2013
After jokingly offering to marry Owens if she moved from Kentucky to Illinois, Lincoln tried to back-pedal when she appeared genuinely interested.
From Slate ● Nov. 17, 2012
He also continued to back-pedal from his comments last Sunday about "legitimate rape", accepting that the views he expressed were "medically wrong".
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2012
A second later, he was standing on my toes, elbows jammed into my chest, as he tried to back-pedal into the closet-sized kitchen we'd just left.
From Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Conklin’s knee collapsed under him as he back-pedaled and he struggled just walking to the sideline before being carted to the locker room.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 29, 2021
He back-pedaled as Canelo pursued, sensing perhaps that the Russian was showing some signs of fatigue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2019
In the meantime, they have back-pedaled on some of the claims originally listed in the initial pitch.
From Scientific American ● Oct. 3, 2014
But as thousands of people in Ukraine worried about their exposures from the Chernobyl blast, Soviet medical officials back-pedaled on the FIB-4 doctors’ original findings.
From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2013
He hesitated, fist pulled back to throw the best punch he had left, and the new frogman back-pedaled.
From The Wailing Octopus by Harold L. (Harold Leland) Goodwin
Making the goal better was the back-pedaling Marshall’s desperate dive in a forlorn bid to stop the ball from going in.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 12, 2021
Harvard's back-pedaling follows protests from high-profile figures in the U.S. intelligence community after Harvard made the initial announcement Wednesday.
From Time ● Sep. 15, 2017
The back-pedaling Villa nodded an expert header back across the goal and beyond Hamid’s reach.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 12, 2017
In others — many, many others — the back-pedaling by defenders doesn’t last nearly as long.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2017
Yet despite reviewers’ complaints about the nano’s missing playback buttons, it’s hard to imagine Apple back-pedaling.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2011
Hope hooked Mahmood, Carse misjudged, back-pedalled and stuck up a hand to produce a copy of Ben Stokes's famous grab at The Oval during the 2019 World Cup.
From BBC ● May 29, 2025
Ivana later back-pedalled on the statement, according to previous coverage by Salon, saying:
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2022
The government back-pedalled on the planned reopening this week for international tourism due to the threat of the Omicron variant.
From Reuters ● Dec. 2, 2021
Foden released Sterling and as the red shirts back-pedalled his effort needed a Fabinho block.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 2, 2020
He determined to keep his feet going as long as he safely could, and he back-pedalled gently to keep them in place.
From Harper's Round Table, October 22, 1895 by Various
From there, another scrum, another penalty advantage, and with the All Blacks back-pedalling captain Siya Kolisi crashed over for South Africa's third try and a 10-point lead after a pulsating first 40.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Jamal attacked Carse’s bouncers, producing a steepling top edge that Ollie Pope dropped while back-pedalling from square leg.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2024
Alexander-Arnold’s shot had power and accuracy but the back-pedalling keeper managed to tip over on the line and deny the defender one of the goals of the season.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 24, 2020
Suddenly the home side were back-pedalling, the left-winger racing to the penalty area’s edge before drawing a save from Claudio Bravo, the keeper flinging himself right.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 9, 2018
It was a word of dread among cyclists until, say, the year 1900, when rim-and back-pedalling brakes superseded the inefficient spoon-brake, acting on the front tyre.
From The Brighton Road The Classic Highway to the South by Charles G. (Charles George) Harper
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