climb-down
noun
a retreat, as from an indefensible opinion or position.
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climb-down
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climb down
climb downverbto descend
climb-down
American
[klahym-daun]
/ ˈklaɪmˌdaʊn /
noun
climb down
British
verb
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to descend
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(often foll by from) to retreat (from an opinion, position, etc)
noun
Etymology
Origin of climb-down
First recorded in 1885–90; noun use of verb phrase climb down
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:
It is a remarkable climb-down, underscoring the difficulty of spurring the transition to electric vehicles even in an authoritarian country that brooks little dissent.
From Barron's ● May 19, 2026
Privately, though, they said that was exactly the reason for the climb-down, and Trump himself conceded that markets were getting a little too “yippy” for his taste.
From Slate ● Apr. 12, 2025
The IPO represents a climb-down from the $64 billion valuation at which SoftBank last month acquired the 25% stake it did not already own in the company from the $100 billion Vision Fund it manages.
From Reuters ● Sep. 13, 2023
But Friday’s climb-down underscored the stakes of the upcoming 2022 election in Uttar Pradesh, experts say.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 19, 2021
The reason?—a kindly means of saving faces for those whom he and I were going to "persuade"—of making the "climb-down" easier for them!
From Angels & Ministers by Laurence Housman
“They showed they could weather the storm and the administration had to climb down from the tariffs and spend most of the past year trying to mollify China.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
While attempting to climb down a set of stairs, Sanders fell sometime between 11:45 p.m. and 12:20 a.m., according to court documents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
It takes some 45 seconds for a crane operator to climb down, let alone reach a shelter, Berestenko said.
From Barron's ● Feb. 27, 2026
And during her On The Run II tour with husband Jay-Z in 2018, a moving platform broke, forcing Beyoncé to climb down a ladder - in heels and a sequined leotard, no less.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2025
They were ready to climb down to the floor below.
From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
