back down

back down
verb
1. move backwards from a certain position (Freq. 2)
-

The bully had to back down

• Syn: ↑back up, ↑back off
• Derivationally related forms: ↑backdown
• Hypernyms:
• Verb Frames:
-

Something ——s

-

Somebody ——s

2. remove oneself from an obligation
-

He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved

• Syn: ↑chicken out, ↑back off, ↑pull out, ↑bow out
• Hypernyms: ↑retire, ↑withdraw
• Hyponyms: ↑resile
• Verb Group: ↑pull out, ↑get out
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s

-

Somebody ——s PP

* * *

[verb]
give in, accede, admit defeat, back-pedal, concede, surrender, withdraw, yield

* * *

GIVE IN, concede defeat, surrender, yield, submit, climb down, concede, reconsider; backtrack, back-pedal.
→ back

* * *

intransitive verb
: to retreat or withdraw from a previous commitment, position, or claim

wished he had not undertaken the errand, but he was afraid to back down — Harold Sinclair

* * *

back down
1. To abandon one's opinion or position
2. To move (a boat) backwards by pushing the oars (rowing) (backˈdown noun)
• • •
Main Entry: ↑back

* * *

ˌback ˈdown [intransitive] [present tense I/you/we/they back down he/she/it backs down present participle backing down past tense backed down past participle backed down] phrasal verb
to stop asking for something, or to stop saying that you will do something, because a lot of people oppose you

Neither side is willing to back down.

back down on:

We will not back down on the decision to strike.

Thesaurus: to decide not to do or have somethingsynonym
Main entry: back

* * *

withdraw a claim or assertion in the face of opposition

the contenders backed down from their original pledge

* * *

back down [phrasal verb]
: to stop arguing or fighting for something

When threatened with a revolt of its own supporters, the government backed down.

The strike is expected to continue because neither side is willing to back down.

— often + from

The government backed down from its position.

He'll never back down from a fight.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑back

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • back\ down — • back down • back off v informal To give up a claim; not follow up a threat. Bill said he could beat Ted, but when Ted put up his fists Bill backed down. Harry claimed Joe had taken his book, but backed down when the teacher talked with him. Syn …   Словарь американских идиом

  • back down — (v.) in figurative sense of withdraw a charge, 1859, American English, from notion of descending a ladder, etc.; from BACK (Cf. back) (v.) + DOWN (Cf. down) (adv.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • back down — [v] withdraw from agreement or statement abandon, accede, admit, back off, back out, back pedal*, backtrack, balk, beg off*, cancel, chicken out*, concede, cop out*, demur, give in, give up, go back on, hold back, recant, recoil, renege, resign,… …   New thesaurus

  • back|down — «BAK DOWN», noun. Informal. a backing down; retreat from a claim, position, or point of view after a challenge: »... backdowns, concessions and shifts (Time) …   Useful english dictionary

  • back down — ► back down concede defeat. Main Entry: ↑back …   English terms dictionary

  • back down — index abandon (withdraw), accede (concede), disavow, surrender (yield), yield (submit) …   Law dictionary

  • back down — phrasal verb [intransitive] Word forms back down : present tense I/you/we/they back down he/she/it backs down present participle backing down past tense backed down past participle backed down to stop asking for something, or to stop saying that… …   English dictionary

  • back down — PHRASAL VERB If you back down, you withdraw a claim, demand, or commitment that you made earlier, because other people are strongly opposed to it. [V P] The United States had no intention of backing down in its bitter row with the European… …   English dictionary

  • back down — v. (D; intr.) to back down from (they had to back down from their demands) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • back down — to decide not to do something because others say you should not do it. Most of the speakers opposed the budget cuts, but the mayor said she would not back down. We demanded an end to the weapons tests, and we thought they had agreed to back down …   New idioms dictionary

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