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:
He later tried to back-pedal, claiming he was misquoted, but the country's human rights body found his comments "hurtful and harmful".
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026
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
I shouted; 'and back-pedal for all you are worth!'
From Foe-Farrell by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir
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
I back-pedaled and whistled—a long, low, familiar howl greeted my ears and brought the tears to my eyes.
From My Home in the Field of Honor by Huard, Frances Wilson
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
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
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
The Spaniard's goal had been the culmination of a slick move that cut through the Wolves defence, the playmaker running riot against back-pedalling opponents.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 25, 2012
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 Harper, Charles G. (Charles George)
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.
