To back down

To back down
Back Back, v. i. 1. To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back. [1913 Webster]

2. (Naut.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind. [1913 Webster]

3. (Sporting) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]

{To back and fill}, to manage the sails of a ship so that the wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in order to keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel while the current or tide carries the vessel against the wind. Hence: (Fig.) To take opposite positions alternately; to assert and deny. [Colloq.]

{To back out}, {To back down}, to retreat or withdraw from a promise, engagement, or contest; to recede. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Cleon at first . . . was willing to go; but, finding that he [Nicias] was in earnest, he tried to back out. --Jowett (Thucyd. ) [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • back\ down — • back down • back off v informal To give up a claim; not follow up a threat. Bill said he could beat Ted, but when Ted put up his fists Bill backed down. Harry claimed Joe had taken his book, but backed down when the teacher talked with him. Syn …   Словарь американских идиом

  • back down — (v.) in figurative sense of withdraw a charge, 1859, American English, from notion of descending a ladder, etc.; from BACK (Cf. back) (v.) + DOWN (Cf. down) (adv.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • back down (on something) — ˌback ˈdown (on/from sth) derived (NAmE also ˌback ˈoff) to take back a demand, an opinion, etc. that other people are strongly opposed to; to admit defeat • She refused to back down on a point of principle. Main entry: ↑backderived …   Useful english dictionary

  • back down (from something) — ˌback ˈdown (on/from sth) derived (NAmE also ˌback ˈoff) to take back a demand, an opinion, etc. that other people are strongly opposed to; to admit defeat • She refused to back down on a point of principle. Main entry: ↑backderived …   Useful english dictionary

  • back down — [v] withdraw from agreement or statement abandon, accede, admit, back off, back out, back pedal*, backtrack, balk, beg off*, cancel, chicken out*, concede, cop out*, demur, give in, give up, go back on, hold back, recant, recoil, renege, resign,… …   New thesaurus

  • back|down — «BAK DOWN», noun. Informal. a backing down; retreat from a claim, position, or point of view after a challenge: »... backdowns, concessions and shifts (Time) …   Useful english dictionary

  • back down — ► back down concede defeat. Main Entry: ↑back …   English terms dictionary

  • back down — index abandon (withdraw), accede (concede), disavow, surrender (yield), yield (submit) …   Law dictionary

  • back down — verb 1. move backwards from a certain position (Freq. 2) The bully had to back down • Syn: ↑back up, ↑back off • Derivationally related forms: ↑backdown • Hypernyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • back down — phrasal verb [intransitive] Word forms back down : present tense I/you/we/they back down he/she/it backs down present participle backing down past tense backed down past participle backed down to stop asking for something, or to stop saying that… …   English dictionary

  • Back Down to One — Infobox Album Name = Back Down to One Type = Album Artist = Jani Lane Released = 2002 Recorded = Genre = Hard rock/Glam rock Length = Label = Just Having Fun Productions Producer = Reviews =*Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p …   Wikipedia

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