walk back the cat
English
editVerb
editwalk back the cat (third-person singular simple present walks back the cat, present participle walking back the cat, simple past and past participle walked back the cat)
- (intelligence) To retrace events so as to determine where an operation went wrong and who was responsible.
- 2007, Ward Just, Forgetfulness, page 110:
- Bernhard had been called back to headquarters for a conference, a general review of current operations with special attention to methods and sources, connecting dots while they walked back the cat, a dispirited and dispiriting exercise.
- (diplomacy) To back down; to adopt a position where one is more willing to compromise.