row back

row back

To quickly or abruptly reverse or retreat from one's earlier position, decision, or opinion. Primarily heard in UK. The actor had to row back when he let slip a racist remark during the press conference. The government is rowing back on the decision to increase water charges after nationwide protests erupted on Friday.
See also: back, row
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • backpedal
  • change one's tune, to
  • sing a different song
  • sing a different song/tune
  • sing a different tune
  • sing another tune
  • snap back
  • abortive action
  • up and
  • up and (do something)
References in classic literature
As he turned to row back to shore he heard a woman's shriek from the ship's deck.
Skiff after skiff crossed the estuary and hauled up on the sandspit, while Hans' work was cut out for him--ever to row back and forth for more supplies of booze.
I was no more able to stay behind now than I was to persuade them not to go; so the captain ordered two men to row back the pinnace, and fetch twelve men more, leaving the long-boat at an anchor; and that, when they came back, six men should keep the two boats, and six more come after us; so that he left only sixteen men in the ship: for the whole ship's company consisted of sixty-five men, whereof two were lost in the late quarrel which brought this mischief on.
The Canadian gold giant was also yesterday forced to row back after its chief executive Mark Bristow told Bloomberg in an interview he would not offer shareholders a higher deal.
But Jeremy Corbyn said: "Our NHS is not for sale." Mr Trump later appeared to row back on his demands.
The Wishaw Wizard is the first player to lose back-to-back finals since Jimmy White was beaten five in a row back in the 90s.
But even as the Government scrambles to cram that row back in its box, individual immigration cases all over the country are causing anger and disquiet.
"When he was at Sunderland, he said something after the game and he had to row back or something like that.
<B Fears that the Tories could seek to row back on Assembly powers post-Brexit could be lessened after the party's poor General Election result
Bin Salem tried to row back from his comments, issuing a statement saying that Tunisia's relations with the kingdom were "completely harmonious".
It's a hard one for her to row back on, so she'll need a lot of advice and support.
Therefore UEFA should row back on ejecting any Euro football teams as the mindless minority will win and the genuine football majority will lose.
Springer said a two-week-old experiment to restrict access by Google to some of its publications had caused web traffic to plunge for these sites, leading it to row back and let Google once again showcase Springer news stories in its search results.
EDUCATION Secretary Nicky Morgan has vowed to "be nice to teachers", but warned she would not row back on predecessor Michael Gove's controversial reforms.
One diplomat said that Iran had appeared to row back on its previous openness to resolve concerns over the heavy-water Arak reactor that the West fears could provide plutonium for bombs once it is operational.