backpedal

See also: back-pedal

English

Alternative forms

• back-pedal

Etymology

back +‎ pedal

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbækˌpɛdəɫ/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (AU):

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Verb

backpedal (third-person singular simple present backpedals, present participle (US) backpedaling or (UK) backpedalling, simple past and past participle (US) backpedaled or (UK) backpedalled)

1. (intransitive) To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
2. (intransitive) To step backwards.

   The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.

3. (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

• (distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement): climb down

Derived terms

• backpedal brake (on a bicycle)
• backpedaler, backpedaller

Translations

to pedal backwards on a bicycle

• Finnish: polkea taaksepäin
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: rétropédaler (fr)
• Interlingue:

to step backwards

• Finnish: peruuttaa (fi), ottaa takapakkia, astua taaksepäin
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: reculer (fr)

to distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement

• Finnish: peruuttaa (fi), ottaa takapakkia
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: rétropédaler (fr), faire marche arrière (fr)
• Interlingue: