back-pedal (redirected from back-pedals)

back-pedal

vb -pedals, -pedalling, -pedalled US, -pedals -pedaling, -pedaled (intr)

1. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Cycle Racing) to turn the pedals of a bicycle backwards

2. to retract or modify a previous opinion, principle, etc

3. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Boxing) Boxing to take backward steps

Thesaurus

back-pedal

verb

1. backtrack, go back, reverse, reconsider, climb down, have second thoughts, change your mind, flip-flop (informal, chiefly U.S.), do a U-turn He appeared to back-pedal on that statement.

2. break your word, go back on your word, default, back out, repudiate, welsh (slang), flip-flop (informal, chiefly U.S.), break a promise He's back-pedalled twice already.

Translations

back-pedal [ˈbækˈpedl] VI (on bicycle) → pedalear hacia atrás (fig) → echarse atrás, dar marcha atrás

back-pedal [ˌbækˈpɛd/əl] vi (on bicycle) → pedalare all'indietro (fig) → fare marcia indietro