back·ped·al

(băk′pĕd′l)

intr.v. back·ped·aled, back·ped·al·ing, back·ped·als or back·ped·alled or back·ped·al·ling

1. To move the pedals of a bicycle or similar vehicle backward, especially to apply a brake.

2. To move backward by taking short quick steps, as in boxing or football.

3. To retreat or withdraw from a position or attitude: The senator later backpedaled on the issue.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Verb	1.	backpedal - pedal backwards on a bicycle bicycle, bike, pedal, wheel, cycle - ride a bicycle
	2.	backpedal - step backwards, in boxing step - shift or move by taking a step; "step back"
	3.	backpedal - modify one's opinion, make it less strong rethink - change one's mind; "He rethought his decision to take a vacation"

backpedal

verb

To move in a reverse direction:

back, backtrack, fall back, retreat, retrocede, retrograde, retrogress.

Idiom: retrace one's steps.

Translations

fare retromarcia tirarsi indietro

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

The stance adopted by the Arab ministers conveys an obvious message to the international sports bodies, the minister said, expressing hope the latter would backpedal on the suspension decision and allow Kuwaiti athletes to participate in international Olympic activities "under the flag of their country." Earlier today, the Arab ministers called on international sports institutions to backpedal on their decision to suspend Kuwaiti sports activities, and to allow Kuwaiti athletes to partake in world sports events "under the flag of their country".

Kuwait keen on respect of Olympic Charter, promoting sports laws - Min. tells UN envoy

A busy Neal then had to backpedal rapidly to deny Randall as the midfielder's audacious 45-yard effort almost caught him napping.

Vale of tears as Spireites cruise

The daily cited unnamed sources as saying that Baragwanath informed Lebanese officials whom he has met that all of the court's "verdicts will be issued within three years", adding that claims that the tribunal might stop its mission or "change its trajectory, go against [what is happening] in reality." According to the sources, the STL President clearly stated that the court will not backpedal on its mission.

STL president: all verdicts to be issued 'within 3 years'

Backpedal through the combusting office-spaces, the one-

911 on short notice, from the coffee room

As the DB continues his backpedal, he must pump his elbows behind him, keeping them flexed at 90 degrees.

Drills to develop man-to-man coverage skills for defensive backs

We of course don't want to minimize the radical social ethic of the reign of God nor backpedal on the prophetic critique of our deformed culture, but we must also recall how we ourselves have been shown grace in Christ, and reach out accordingly.

Keep measured tones

A move to the common enterprise model, wherein faculty demonstrate "a willingness occasionally to sacrifice for the collective good." ("Occasionally" seems a Last minute backpedal of sorts.)

A mandate to change

It's hard to believe that their advice to him was "backpedal like a fiend." If nothing else, the fact that so many Democratic insiders felt that Lieberman had sold the campaign out on national television would seem to indicate the opposite.

Mensch at work: the dilemma of Joe Lieberman

In a November 1998 statement, he had to backpedal: "As you periodically scan the skies, remember it's not a bird, it's not a plane--it's a pig flying in Florida!" So what are the changes?

Compilations: the story goes on

If you sense that someone is intentionally insulting you, look them in the eye and say something like "You're not putting black people down, are you?" If you say exactly what they're doing, they will probably backpedal, Horn says.

Don't mince your words: deflect racist remarks in the workplace with finesse