back-pedal

He later tried to back-pedal, claiming he was misquoted, but the country's human rights body found his comments "hurtful and harmful".

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Suárez found the side-netting with a shot; Ivan Rakitic headed over from Messi’s free-kick and Bravo had to back-pedal, leap and tip over his own crossbar, after he had only half-saved a shot from Suárez.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 19, 2016

Carrey isn’t the first actor to back-pedal on a project—but he’s still bringing something new into the mix.

From Time ● Jun. 25, 2013

After jokingly offering to marry Owens if she moved from Kentucky to Illinois, Lincoln tried to back-pedal when she appeared genuinely interested.

From Slate ● Nov. 17, 2012

I shouted; 'and back-pedal for all you are worth!'

From Foe-Farrell by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

Conklin’s knee collapsed under him as he back-pedaled and he struggled just walking to the sideline before being carted to the locker room.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 29, 2021

He back-pedaled as Canelo pursued, sensing perhaps that the Russian was showing some signs of fatigue.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2019

In the meantime, they have back-pedaled on some of the claims originally listed in the initial pitch.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 3, 2014

But as thousands of people in Ukraine worried about their exposures from the Chernobyl blast, Soviet medical officials back-pedaled on the FIB-4 doctors’ original findings.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2013

Roger quickly stepped back, and back-pedaled until Astro called time.

From Stand by for Mars! by Glanzman, Louis

Making the goal better was the back-pedaling Marshall’s desperate dive in a forlorn bid to stop the ball from going in.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 12, 2021

Harvard's back-pedaling follows protests from high-profile figures in the U.S. intelligence community after Harvard made the initial announcement Wednesday.

From Time ● Sep. 15, 2017

In others —  many, many others —  the back-pedaling by defenders doesn’t last nearly as long.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2017

When Boras’s comments — which are on tape — were read back to him, he began back-pedaling at Darrell Green-like speed.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 27, 2012

Yet despite reviewers’ complaints about the nano’s missing playback buttons, it’s hard to imagine Apple back-pedaling.

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2011

Hope hooked Mahmood, Carse misjudged, back-pedalled and stuck up a hand to produce a copy of Ben Stokes's famous grab at The Oval during the 2019 World Cup.

From BBC ● May 29, 2025

Ivana later back-pedalled on the statement, according to previous coverage by Salon, saying:

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2022

The government back-pedalled on the planned reopening this week for international tourism due to the threat of the Omicron variant.

From Reuters ● Dec. 2, 2021

Unlike anyone before or ever since, Robinson’s jab as he back-pedalled was just as hurtful as when he was on the front foot.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 8, 2016

He determined to keep his feet going as long as he safely could, and he back-pedalled gently to keep them in place.

From Harper's Round Table, October 22, 1895 by Various

Dutton has had to do some back-pedalling on comments he made earlier in the year.

From BBC ● May 1, 2025

A cross by Conor Coady sent Asmir Begovic back-pedalling frantically in the opening minute and the goalkeeper was relieved to be able to bat it out for a corner.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 18, 2017

After centuries of perfecting the ritual of ‘civilized’ dining, there is a furious back-pedalling, a wilding, even among the chefs who employ the most cutting-edge techniques.

From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2013

A back-pedalling survivalist, he was a conscientious objector during a war plagued era.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 18, 2013

A locking-ring R with a left-hand thread, screwed tight against the chain-wheel, prevents the latter from being unscrewed by back-pedalling.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7 "Bible" to "Bisectrix" by Various