Meaning
To quickly and often abruptly reverse or retreat from one’s position or opinion on a given subject. Refers to pedaling backwards on a bicycle (done to apply the brakes on fixed-gear bikes), or to taking quick, backward steps, as in football or boxing.
Examples
The actor had to backpedal when he let slip a racist remark during the press conference.
Origin
Synonyms
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does the idiom ‘backpedal’ mean?
The idiom ‘backpedal’ means “to deal with a difficult situation without being harmed or damaged”
How do you use ‘backpedal’ in a sentence?
Example usage of idiom ‘backpedal’: Newspapers have weathered the storm of online information by providing news online themselves.