climbdown

[klahym-doun]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a retreat from a policy, opinion, position in a debate, etc..

   The government’s recent climbdown from its wage freeze policy is just another instance of the flip-flopping that infuriates voters.

Word History and Origins

Origin of climbdown¹

First recorded in 1905–10; climb ( def. ) + down ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

China’s actions show that the U.S. is vulnerable to economic pressure, and China has forced the administration to choose between further escalation or a humiliating climbdown.

Read more on Barron's

The SNL sketch, which aired in April, was criticised by one viewer as taking "a screeching turn into 1970s misogyny" - a comment Wood reposted on social media - and prompted a climbdown by show bosses, who Wood said apologised.

Read more on BBC

Panic, confusion and then a hasty White House climbdown - it was a weekend of whiplash for hundreds of thousands of Indians on H-1B visas.

Read more on BBC

Despite the government's climbdown last week, 47 Labour MPs still voted against the legislation and backed a rebel amendment tabled by York MP Rachael Maskell.

Read more on BBC

The climbdown means the savings will now be delayed or lost entirely, which puts pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the autumn Budget.

Read more on BBC