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.
“What was lovely about that,” Morton begins and then stops, wondering if she should draw back the curtain on the creative process.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
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
And it's a gamble that culture journalist Lauren O'Neill, who's written a column about Love Island, thinks could pay off and draw back "fatigued" fans.
From BBC ● Jan. 15, 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
He looked to C.P. for support and C.P. smiled in return, but Butler read the doubt in C.P.’s face and it caused him to draw back.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
