backpedal

/ˈbækˌpɛdəɫ/

IPA: /B AE1 K P EH0 D AH0 L/

verb

1
To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
2
To step backwards.
“The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.”
3
To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.
“Though initially adopting a hard-line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal.”

Synonyms

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