double back

British  

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to go back in the opposite direction (esp in the phrase double back on one's tracks )

---

double back Idioms  

1. Reverse one's course, go back the way one has come. For example, The officer lost the suspect, who had doubled back on him. This term, at first put simply as to double, is used largely to describe a way of evading pursuit. [Late 1500s]

---

Example Sentences

Then, one appeared to double back and peek inside.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2025

But now we see her double back to confront Joel about his lies and demand that he answer her questions about Salt Lake City honestly.

From Salon • May 19, 2025

It suggests that the sensible way forward is to double back.

From New York Times • Jan. 22, 2024

Top of the Premier League after nine matches following their best start to a season since winning the double back in 1960-61 - and under a manager Spurs supporters have fallen in love with.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2023

Then, if that wasn’t bad enough, some Sundays we’d double back to white church for a special evening service.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah