backpedal
See also: back-pedal
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editVerb
editbackpedal (third-person singular simple present backpedals, present participle (US) backpedaling or (UK) backpedalling, simple past and past participle (US) backpedaled or (UK) backpedalled)
- (intransitive) To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
- 1984, Roald Dahl, Boy:
- The road was on a hill and the boy was going down the slope, and as he flashed by he started backpedalling very quickly so that the free-wheeling mechanism of his bike made a loud whirring sound.
- (intransitive) To step backwards.
- The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.
- (intransitive, idiomatic) To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.
- Though initially adopting a hard-line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal.
Synonyms
edit- (distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement): climb down, walk back
Derived terms
edit- backpedal brake (on a bicycle)
- backpedaler, backpedaller
Translations
editto pedal backwards on a bicycle
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to step backwards
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to distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement
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Noun
editbackpedal (plural backpedals)
- An act of backpedalling (in any sense).
- 2013, Greg Colby, Football: Steps to Success, page 120:
- He should come out of his backpedal and turn to run only when a receiver threatens to get behind him in the zone.