claw back
Britishverb
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to get back (something) with difficulty
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to recover (a sum of money), esp by taxation or a penalty
noun
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the recovery of a sum of money, esp by taxation or a penalty
-
the sum so recovered
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.
Sasaki’s troubles this season have been hard to pin down since his last win on May 23, as Sasaki tries to claw back the triple-digit velocity that’s escaped him as of late.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
However, in recent months Ukraine has managed to claw back some territory occupied by Russian troops, aided by technological advances and a slower pace of recruitment on the Russian side.
From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026
Pep Guardiola's side, looking to claw back the deficit, can increase the pressure when they host the leaders in a monumental fixture at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 19 April.
From BBC ● Apr. 11, 2026
Most workers sit outside the scope of shunto altogether, said Stefan Angrick at Moody’s Analytics, while firms often claw back headline increases by trimming bonuses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026
Objective studies have consistently shown that immigrants contribute more to their host economies - as consumers, investors and workers - than they ever claw back in social services and public goods.
From The Belgian Curtain Europe after Communism by Vaknin, Samuel
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.
