backpedal

backpedal

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. The actor had to backpedal when he let slip a racist remark during the press conference.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • pedal
  • sing a different song
  • sing a different song/tune
  • sing a different tune
  • sing another tune
  • change one's tune, to
  • snap back
  • abortive action
  • bend
  • bend over backwards to do something
References in periodicals archive
On the coach's command the defensive back will start his backpedal, using good technique.
Developing the defensive back
If the safeties get a run read on the snap they will backpedal and then slide three steps to the outside.
Playing the weak side part 2: secondary coverage
Sprint to Cone 2, shuffle to Cone 3, backpedal to Cone 4, and shuffle back to Cone 1.
SUMMER CONDITIONING FOR FOOTBALL
Hardline Unionists fear leader Mr Trimble, Northern Ireland's First Minister, is about to backpedal on his insistence that the handover begins on October 31.
BLAIR USES PRIZE IN BID TO END GUN CRISIS
and China were "miles and miles" apart on any trade deal, but then backpedaled by saying there was a fair chance that a deal could get done.
Commerce Secretary's trade comments lead to cautious early trading
The AML leader backpedaled from a claim to tender his resignation.
Sadiq and Ameen: Plea for Rasheed's disqualification dismissed
Yesterday, we were treated to another in a series of backpedals, when the Associated Press corrected a caption to the heartbreaking picture above, which faulted an Israeli air strike for killing the infant son of a BBC reporter during Israel's Operation Pillar of Defense last November.
AP Loses Its Own Caption Contest. Twice
I believe sexual experimentation is part of human history." Weeks after her admission, Furtado backpedaled. This, of course, comes from the woman who said in an interview earlier in the year, "This album [Loose] is really sexually assertive in the way TLC used to be.
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia: Marcia's mad, Rosie's back, and Eva wants us
But Duckworth quickly backpedaled after Service-members Legal Defense Network, a Washington, D.C.-based organization lobbying to end "don't ask, don't tell," issued a press release August 9 praising her "strong support" for the cause.
Political waffler alert: Iraq War vet Tammy Duckworth wants equality for gay soldiers--but not really
The founder of Domino's Pizza has backpedaled on plans regarding the Catholic university and town he is helping to create in Florida.
Pizza magnate backs off Catholic town plan
What follows is two years of wrangling, pleading, and weeping as the vendor makes excuses, backpedals and changes the specs.
Something old, something new: harnessing technology of the future
(One example: Billing records for the Arkansas Project showed payments to Olson's law firm.) But when conservatives screamed "witchhunt," Hatch backpedaled and said no to a Democratic request for further investigation, making it likely that Olson's nomination will move through the full Senate.What happened to those Republicans who once argued that any lying under oath by a high-level government official deserves the most serious punishment?
WHAT'S OLSON NOT TELLING?
In informal working-level talks held in mid-September, the Chinese side backpedaled on its previous commitment to a timetable for opening its telecommunications market, reducing or abolishing export subsidies and other market-opening measures.
Japanese editorial excerpts - CHINA'S WTO ENTRY MUST GO AHEAD
Early works like Medea (1987) and Zentropa (1991) laid the cinematography on thick and backpedaled narrative into a rumpled sketch.
FLAILING VISION
Some people, who were at one point very big enthusiasts of endothermy, have backpedaled quite furiously," says Farlow.
The pulse of T. Rex: were dinosaurs warm-blooded? Does it even matter?