Dictionary

back down en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously had, or has planned to have.
   • The boys had planned to fight during recess, but backed down after the principal found out.
   • By the time politicians in several cities backed down on Tuesday and announced that they would cut or consider reducing fares, the demonstrations had already morphed into a more sweeping social protest, with marchers waving banners carrying slogans like “The people have awakened.” 2013 June 18, Simon Romero, “Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders”, in New York Times, retrieved 21 Jun 2013:
   • I was about to sue them, but I had to back down.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To make (someone) take a less aggressive position.
   • I have backed down so many men by confronting them. I'm willing to fight back. If you have that rage in your heart and you are willing to kill, that radiates. 1980 February 9, Chris Guilfoy, anonymous quotee, “Town Meeting Talks About The Issue of Violence”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 28, page 1:
3. (idiomatic) To withdraw from a commitment or position; back out.

Forms

Relateds

back out · backdown · yield · give in · back off · back up · retract · retreat · back into

Translations (26)

sv ge med (to take less aggressive position) · ro ceda (to take less aggressive position) · ca fer marxa enrere (to take less aggressive position) · fi perääntyä (to take less aggressive position) · es recular (to take less aggressive position) · de eine Rückzieher machen (to take less aggressive position) · es echarse atrás (to take less aggressive position) · ru пойти́ на усту́пки (to take less aggressive position) · de nachgeben (to take less aggressive position) · sv ge vika (to take less aggressive position) · pl dać za wygraną (to take less aggressive position) · it cedere (to take less aggressive position) · ru спасовать (to take less aggressive position) · pl ustępować (to take less aggressive position) · pl dawać za wygraną (to take less aggressive position) · pl ustąpić (to take less aggressive position) · de zurückrudern (to take less aggressive position) · ru дать за́дний ход (to take less aggressive position) · ca fer-se enrere (to take less aggressive position) · pt voltar atrás (to take less aggressive position) · fr baisser d'un ton (to take less aggressive position) · pl wycofać się (to take less aggressive position) · cmn 做出讓步 /做出让步 (to take less aggressive position) · ru пойти́ на попя́тный (to take less aggressive position) · pl wycofywać się (to take less aggressive position) · pt recuar (to take less aggressive position)