hang back

I wanted to hang back, too, when he took me into the house to see Mrs. Bowles.

I don't suppose you'll hang back after that; will you, Mr. Sharp?

The tone was so ugly that Dick felt it would be useless to hang back.

"Tell your boy king that we will not hang back," Haki called after Thorstein.

Not one should hang back and let his neighbors do for him what he ought to do for himself.

As they drew near home she walked in silence, and seemed to hang back.

“Depend on me; I will not hang back if we have to defend ourselves,” he answered.

And then at last it occurred to me that perhaps it was wrong in me to hang back.

Speak, Philip; do not hang back, but let me hear your mind.'

She seemed to hang back, as if reluctant, or too timid, to approach.