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:
Like a standup comedian who realizes he has gone too far, he was forced to back-pedal: “No, no. Don’t worry, nobody accepted it. But I tried like hell, I’ll tell you.”
From The Guardian ● May 17, 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
Going down, if the hill be long, the brake must be used from the start, and to know how to back-pedal is important.
From Ladies in the Field: Sketches of Sport by Greville, Beatrice Violet Graham
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
But there was a slight limp in his movement as he back-pedaled away from the Nipe.
From Anything You Can Do! by Garrett, Randall
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
In others — many, many others — the back-pedaling by defenders doesn’t last nearly as long.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2017
When Boras’s comments — which are on tape — were read back to him, he began back-pedaling at Darrell Green-like speed.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 27, 2012
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
A cross by Conor Coady sent Asmir Begovic back-pedalling frantically in the opening minute and the goalkeeper was relieved to be able to bat it out for a corner.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 18, 2017
It’s another excellent over from Finn but from its most indifferent delivery comes … a wicket, du Plessis helping a half-tracker to the square leg boundary where a back-pedalling Hales takes the catch with ease.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 14, 2016
After centuries of perfecting the ritual of ‘civilized’ dining, there is a furious back-pedalling, a wilding, even among the chefs who employ the most cutting-edge techniques.
From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2013
Meanwhile, the asks what possessed the PM to suddenly announce a new law which has caused such back-pedalling.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2012
No sooner were we on up-grades than I exhausted myself by my vigorous back-pedalling.
From A Canterbury Pilgrimage by Pennell, Elizabeth Robins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
