fade back

fade back

1. In American football, for an offensive player to move backward before making a play while the rest of the offensive players move forward. The quarterback faded back before throwing the ball.
2. To recede. I started to cry as I watched my old house fade back in the rearview mirror.
See also: back, fade
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fade back (into something)

to move back into a particular area. He faded back to throw a pass. Quickly and unnoticed, he faded back.
See also: back, fade
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

fade back

v.
1. In American football, to move away from the line of scrimmage, opposite to the direction of the overall offensive play, in order to gain time to make a forward pass: The quarterback faded back and looked downfield for an open receiver.
2. To move something backwards into some space: After she took the medicine, the rash faded back to just her finger.
See also: back, fade
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • on the move
  • move over
  • get a move on
  • get by
  • move away from (something)
  • move it
  • not move an inch
  • roll over
  • move up
  • move up to
References in classic literature
It was sorrowful to behold how the fine gentleman began to fade back into a scarecrow while Mother Rigby shook the ashes out of the pipe and proceeded to replenish it from her tobacco-box.
Mosses From An Old Manse and other stories
IN BETWEEN belting out great tunes, George Ezra told the Barras crowd that when it came to his debut album, he thought he would write a few songs, do a few shows and fade back into obscurity.
live
When the real moon has disappeared and the sun is out, your blue moon will gently fade back to its original self.
Gadgets of the week
"All of a sudden, you will see this really intense, bright white...and then it will fade back out," he said.
Former Space Tourist Shares Advice For Elon Musk's Passengers
It is a chance for modern Guatemala to meet its earlier self but it is also over much too quickly because the mountain people begin to fade back into the highlands with the setting sun, allowing the outer world only a brief contact in order to maintain their mystique.
Antigua Guatemala
Like most Cepheids it brightens faster than it fades; it takes about 1 1/3 days to swell from minimum to maximum, then 4 days to fade back down again.
Pulsing stars in Cepheus: check in on these happening stars, both famous and obscure
"One area I need to work on is my driving of the ball, I need to get a little bit of my fade back."
Unexpected bonus for McDowell as he focuses on Open; GOLF
The nuts from the croton trees used to fade back into the earth in northern Kenya, while their branches were the favoured firewood for small farming communities.
CLIMATE CHANGE - When money grows on trees
Instead there'll a blip of superficial support that may, in time, fade back to its normal level.
BRIT AWARD WINNER JAMES COMING TO ULSTER HALL
They darken to an attractive'category 3'sun lens faster than ever before, up to 45% darker after 90 seconds and they also quickly fade back to full clarity as soon as the ambient light intensity diminishes, up to 23% lighter after one minute.Total UV protection remains in place during the rapid transitions.
High 'sensity'
"In most situations, the animals will just fade back into the forest.''
West Side bears return to woods after causing quite a neighborhood stir; Officials say leave them alone
"I feel confident and I am starting to get the fade back that I always used to hit.
LEE'S A RYDER ON THE STORM; NEWS FILE SPORT AROUND THE WORLD
He'll never again wear a leader jersey and LIVESTRONG might fade back into the pack of support charities.
No more laurels: sector has a conga line of vagabonds
Level 2 has peroxide in it, which means it's a longer-lasting semi permanent but it alters the natural hair colour and doesn't fade back.
You don't have to do a Tulisa to get you noticed
IT WAS there in the way Richard Hills briefly threatened to write a fairytale ending to his riding career only for Zanzamar to fade back into third.
Youthful bliss lifts spirits on night of horror and high drama; David Carr in Dubai reflects on the sobering as well as the uplifting events at Meydan on Saturday