fall back on

1. Also, fall back upon. Rely on, have recourse to, as in I fall back on old friends in time of need, or When he lost his job he had to fall back upon his savings. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Without a clear record of how hunger spreads and persists, politicians can fall back on the familiar script: bad budgeting, poor choices, individual responsibility.

From Salon

She said the family often faced stigma when they produced their Pakistani identity documents, but at least they had something to fall back on - for the sisters even that is not an option anymore.

From BBC

He lives in a trailer and doesn’t have massive wealth to fall back on or endless resources; in the finale he points out that the only man who can replace his gear is his father, who he murdered.

From Salon

But it is the established order rather than these disruptors who have been able to fall back on superior income streams.

From BBC

As the camera pans across the classroom, several girls dramatically fall back on a desk or the floor and lie motionless, pretending they were killed.

From Salon