backpedalling

verb

  1. 1

    To pedal backwards on a bicycle.

  2. 2

    To step backwards.

    The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.
  3. 3

    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

Translate “backpedalling” to another language

Click any language to open the translator with this word already filled in.