backpedal

See also: back-pedal

English edit

back +‎ pedal

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

(intransitive) To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
- 1984, Roald Dahl, Boy:
  The road was on a hill and the boy was going down the slope, and as he flashed by he started backpedalling very quickly so that the free-wheeling mechanism of his bike made a loud whirring sound.
(intransitive) To step backwards.
The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.
(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.

to pedal backwards on a bicycle

to step backwards

to distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement