regress to

regress to (something)

1. To return to some earlier state or point of development. It's not uncommon for victims of such trauma to regress to a childlike state as an emotional defense mechanism. I try to keep a fairly neutral accent, but I regress to a real southern twang whenever I get nervous.
2. To move or recede backward to some point. The ice on the lake began regressing to the shoreline as the temperatures continued to rise.
3. To move from a more extreme position back toward the statistical mean. Random variables will almost always regress to the mean if you have a large enough sample size.
See also: regress
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

regress to something

to go back to an earlier, probably simpler, state; to go back to a more primitive state. Bob claimed that Gerald's behavior was regressing to that of a three-year-old. I tend to regress to my college ways when I am out with the guys.
See also: regress
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • regress
  • regress to (something)
  • lap of the gods
  • yellow state
  • in good/poor/etc. state of repair
  • two and eight
  • relapse
  • relapse into
  • relapse into (something)
  • red state
References in periodicals archive
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 6, 2013--Scientists here have discovered that they can make embryonic stem cells regress to a stage of development where they are able to make placenta cells as well as the other fetal cells.
Rewinding development: a step forward for stem cell research
Matthew Clark, 39, and sibling Michael, 42, from Hull, have a brain disease which has caused them to regress to a childlike state forcing them to move back in with their parents so they can receive the daily care they need.
Forever young
Utter kiddie perfection, animation firm Cosgrove-Hall's finest moment has, even now, the innate ability to cause all who watch it to regress to a more innocent and happy time with just the opening bars of its theme tune.
TV TIMES PAST; Dangermouse
For example, these studies pointed out that many groups pass through, regress to, or get stuck in identifiable developmental stages.
Situational policing
-- Most abnormal cervical cytology in adolescent women will be low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and it will regress to normal by the follow-up exam, Andrea Wininger, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
In teens, most abnormal cervical cytology regresses
-- Most abnormal cervical cytology in adolescent women will be low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and will regress to normal by the follow-up exam, Andrea Wininger, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
In teens, most abnormal cervical cytology regresses
REGRESS to the age of innocence, and enjoy "good wholesome family entertainment" for a Saturday night at Garlands.
Second childhood; OUT AND ABOUT
It is too easy to regress to a bottom line orientation, especially in times of stress.
If physician executives don't, who will? (A Reaction)
There are lots of examples of other tissues that regress to save energy and get built up in response to a particular need."
Why Do Women Menstruate?
It may be that the great truth of finance and investment abides: namely, that all things in time regress to the mean.
The Vandals' Crown
The star speaks of how the crash caused a brain injury which saw him regress to a childlike state and left him in excruciating pain.
Top Gear star tells of horror accident
Am I the only person who feels he has to regress to infancy?
Dr Miriam: Any harm in nappy return?
Rather than face the issue, the person becomes dependent on someone or on something or may regress to an earlier stage of development.
Defensive barriers to communication
While the monarchy make furious attempts to modernise, the Wessexes regress to a bygone age when only women did laundry.
Sue Carroll's column: Ad is smalls minded, Ed
Women should not feel licensed to regress to vacuum-cleaner mores any more than men should be able to devolve into patronizing cads.
Married with alibi: why women aspiring to political office shouldn't use the my-husband-did-it excuse