back down

See also: backdown

English

Pronunciation

  • Audio (Australia):(file)

Verb

back down (third-person singular simple present backs down, present participle backing down, simple past and past participle backed down)

  1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously had, or has planned to have.
    I was about to sue them, but I had to back down.
    The boys had planned to fight during recess, but backed down after the principal found out.
    • 2013 June 18, Simon Romero, “Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders”, in The New York Times‎[1], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 1 September 2025:
      By the time politicians in several cities backed down on Tuesday and announced that they would cut or consider reducing fares, the demonstrations had already morphed into a more sweeping social protest, with marchers waving banners carrying slogans like “The people have awakened.”
  2. (idiomatic, transitive) To make (someone) take a less aggressive position.
    Synonym: stare down
    • 1980 February 9, Chris Guilfoy, anonymous quotee, “Town Meeting Talks About The Issue of Violence”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 28, page 1:
      I have backed down so many men by confronting them. I'm willing to fight back. If you have that rage in your heart and you are willing to kill, that radiates.
  3. (idiomatic) To withdraw from a commitment or position; back out.

Translations

See also

See also

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