back-pedal
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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
Like a standup comedian who realizes he has gone too far, he was forced to back-pedal: “No, no. Don’t worry, nobody accepted it. But I tried like hell, I’ll tell you.”
From The Guardian ● May 17, 2019
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
Several times, when I wanted to slow up, I began to back-pedal, forgetting that I wasn't on my bicycle.
From Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle, or, Fun and Adventures on the Road by Victor [pseud.] Appleton
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
He hesitated, fist pulled back to throw the best punch he had left, and the new frogman back-pedaled.
From The Wailing Octopus by Harold L. (Harold Leland) Goodwin
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
Jamal attacked Carse’s bouncers, producing a steepling top edge that Ollie Pope dropped while back-pedalling from square leg.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2024
He's now furiously back-pedalling and telling anyone who will listen that he is not racist - no doubt with one eye on the effect his comments will have at the box office.
From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2019
From just inside City’s half the No9’s attempted lob had Bravo back-pedalling to tip over.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 5, 2016
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
No sooner were we on up-grades than I exhausted myself by my vigorous back-pedalling.
From A Canterbury Pilgrimage by Elizabeth Robins Pennell
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