fall back

British  

verb

1. to recede or retreat

2. to have recourse (to)

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noun

1. a retreat

2. a reserve, esp money, that can be called upon in need

3. 1. anything to which one can have recourse as a second choice

   2. ( as modifier )

      a fall-back position

fall back Idioms  

1. Give ground, retreat, as in The troops fell back before the relentless enemy assault , or He stuck to his argument, refusing to fall back . [c. 1600]

2. Recede, as in The waves fell back from the shore . [c. 1800]

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Example Sentences

If workers are patient, or unsuccessful, inflation may fall back to pre-war rates even without a rise in borrowing costs.

From The Wall Street Journal

It would take us a minute to fall back into our friendship, but then we’d once again be the dynamic duo.

From Literature

But they fell back in the second half of March, as news about risks to the future of the Clarity Act —legislation seeking to regulate digital assets—emerged.

From Barron's

Many economists think that if Middle East tensions ease, oil prices will fall back from current levels, and with time inflation will resume falling toward the Fed’s 2% target.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you find it hard to remember which way the clocks will change, then the phrase "spring forward, fall back" is a useful reminder.

From BBC

Related Words

• recede
• withdraw