Backtrack
to return over the same course or route.
to withdraw from an undertaking, position, etc.; reverse a policy.
Contemporary Examples
“The amount of time you spend at the gym is not enough time to backtrack in your waist training,” she says.
Waist Training: Can You Cinch Your Waist Thin? DailyBurn July 17, 2014
Almost immediately Akin tried to backtrack, saying he misspoke.
Todd Akin’s Most Outrageous Comments (VIDEO) The Daily Beast August 19, 2012
Of course it does mean the governor is having to backtrack on yet another pledge he made.
Will an Oil Spill Save Charlie Crist? Jim DeFede May 3, 2010
He tried to backtrack and get the last words that Crowley should have given him.
Yes, The Debate Moderator Screwed Up. That’s Life. Megan McArdle October 16, 2012
Words just spill out of her mouth too quickly and she has to backtrack.
Interview: Kristen Bell, Voiceover Queen, On ‘Frozen,’ ‘Veronica Mars,’ & More Andrew Romano December 17, 2013
As a wave of revulsion spread across the internet, he began to backtrack.
British Politician Threatens To Punch Muslim Woman in the Throat Nico Hines June 19, 2014
That will be immensely difficult if Mr. Modi continues to backtrack on economic reform.
John Kerry Just Visited. But Should We Just Forget About India? Tunku Varadarajan August 2, 2014
Historical Examples
Loring realized he had made a mistake and tried to backtrack.
Danger in Deep Space Carey Rockwell
To-morrow I’ll sell the grub and backtrack to the coast to guard it.
The Trail of a Sourdough May Kellogg Sullivan
Following their backtrack through the forest, therefore, they proceeded towards the place where they had left their horses.
Bruin Mayne Reid
verb (intransitive)
to return by the same route by which one has come
to retract or reverse one’s opinion, action, policy, etc
v.
“retrace one’s steps,” figuratively, by 1896, from literal sense, with reference to hunted foxes, from back (adv.) + track (v.). Related: Backtracked; backtracking.
Read Also:
- Back-trail
to backtrack. Historical Examples An’ I waited there all afternoon till dark, expectin’ mebbe they’d back-trail. The Man of the Forest Zane Grey “But, Jim, I’ll never be able to find the back-trail,” said Joan. The Border Legion Zane Grey After a while the foot-fall again gained upon him, and once more the walk merged […]
- Back up
the rear part of the human body, extending from the neck to the lower end of the spine. the part of the body of animals corresponding to the human back. the rear portion of any part of the body: the back of the head. the whole body, with reference to clothing: the clothes on his […]
- Back vent
(in plumbing) a vent situated on the sewer side of a trap.
- Back wages
noun See back pay Historical Examples He hinted that if he could get his back wages he did not care what became of the boat. The Yazoo Mystery Irving Craddock His clothes, save what were upon him, had descended to his man-servant for back wages. The Voice of the City O. Henry He insists that […]
- Back walkover
See under walkover (def 4). Racing. a walking or trotting over the course by a contestant who is the only starter. an unopposed or easy victory. any task easily done. Gymnastics. a vertical rotation of the body from a standing position, performed by leaning forward to a brief handstand and bringing the legs over and […]