draw back
Idioms-
Retreat, as in The heckler drew back into the crowd to avoid being identified . [c. 1300]
-
Withdraw from an undertaking, as in I was too deeply committed to draw back now . [Mid-1800s]
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.
Nor is it good news for workers, whose job security becomes less stable if businesses draw back on investment and start to cut costs.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2025
At the Black Conservative Federation RNC's event, attendees spoke of the long effort to draw back voters to the party of Lincoln.
From Salon • Jul. 24, 2024
There were two stagehands waiting to draw back the curtains for us to go on and one said: “‘You nervous?’
From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2024
“When you’re able to draw back on experience and you’re able to lean on experience, that’s going to be huge.”
From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2023
"It is spoken with understanding and foresight. But how do I draw back my arm if all this miscarries?"
From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis
![]()
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.