Back-pedal
to r-t-rd the forward motion by pressing backward on the pedal, especially of a bicycle with coaster brakes.
to retreat from or reverse one’s previous stand on any matter; shift ground:
to back-pedal after severe criticism.
boxing. to retreat from an opponent, especially by stepping rapidly backward.
historical examples
several times, when i wanted to slow up, i began to back-pedal, forgetting that i wasn’t on my bicycle.
tom swift and his motor-cycle victor appleton
verb (intransitive) -pedals, -pedalling, -pedalled (us) -pedals, -pedaling, -pedaled
to turn the pedals of a bicycle backwards
to retract or modify a previous opinion, principle, etc
(boxing) to take backward steps
verb
to retreat, esp from a stated position; back off, back out: this news caused the candidate to back-pedal hastily (1900+)
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