hang back

verb

1. to be reluctant to go forward or carry on (with some activity)

Idioms and Phrases

Be reluctant to move ahead, hold back. For example, They hung back at the entrance, fearful that they wouldn't be admitted, or We hung back to let our parents go in first. [Second half of 1500s]

Example Sentences

But the company has largely hung back on full electrics while rivals such as Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen embraced them.

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He got to the theater first and hung back, observing.

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Stone says that while she and Delbis had a friendly rapport, she hung back a little when they weren’t shooting.

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Whether donning a tracksuit to join a fun-run along Windhoek's Independence Avenue, or insisting his driver hang back from official motorcades, he aimed to be a man of the people.

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The Harris campaign has mostly hung back from directly engaging with the various group calls, except when Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff surprised a Black gay and queer men’s group by joining a call last week.

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