switch back

switch back

1. To return to some previous state or condition. A curse changes the arrogant prince into an ugly toad, so he spends the story trying to find a way to switch back. Your account will switch back to the basic version after the Premium 14-day free trial expires.
2. To cause someone or something to return to some previous state or condition. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "switch" and "back." A: "I'm afraid the experiment has transformed your husband into a half-man, half-fly." B: "Well, figure out a way to switch him back!" We'll have to switch the video output back to composite.
3. To return to something one used to do, have, use, consume, etc. I think I'm going to switch back to my old Internet providers, because this service is terrible. I tried drinking wine for first time the other night, but I hated the way that it tasted, so I switched back to beer. She said her knees have felt much better now that she's switched back to swimming instead of running.
4. To cause someone or something to return to something they used to do, have, use, consume, etc. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "switch" and "back." The bank switched me back to a student account when I started my master's degree. I suggest we switch the machine back to alternating current for the time being.
5. To return ownership or possession of something after engaging in a trade or swap with someone. Do you want to swap cars for a few days? We can switch back after the weekend. My twin brother and I traded places in work the other day to see if anyone noticed, and we still haven't had to switch back.
6. Of a road or path, to create a U-turn and flow in the opposite direction. I always used to get terribly carsick when we drove into the mountains because the roads up there are constantly switching back on themselves. The path will switch back a few times before you reach the top of the hill.
See also: back, switch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

switch something back (to something)

to return something to the way it was. I switched the television back to the previous channel. I switched back the channel to what I was watching before.
See also: back, switch

switch back

 (to something)
1. to return to using or doing something. I decided to switch back to my old shampoo. I switched back and was glad I did.
2. [for a road] to reverse upon itself. The mountain road switched back twenty times in three miles. It switched back every now and then.
See also: back, switch
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • ugly
  • ugly as a toad
  • (as) ugly as a toad
  • toad
  • the curse
  • damn (someone) with (something)
  • damn with
  • bad word
  • a (real) toad-strangler
  • a (real) toad-choker
References in periodicals archive
A few months after the new olive green uniform was introduced, a survey was conducted during which a vast majority of the police officials in the four districts in Rawalpindi division disliked the new uniform and wanted to switch back to the old one.
Police to switch back to khaki and black uniform coming fiscal year
A du representative did call me back three days later and, after an agonising sales pitch, I finally was able to switch back to my old package.
Why do I have to pay for a service I really didn't want?
According to the report, users can still switch back to the old way of writing emails with just a few clicks.
Google's new 'Gmail' compose feature draws complaints
Upped to a mile that day, he perhaps ran out of petrol in the finish and the switch back to six furlongs here may help his cause.
Johnston duo look up to the Mark; Saraband
"We have to switch back on because we want another win.
Time to get back to business, says Ashley
Summary: PARIS/NEW YORK - Europe's Airbus is considering whether to drop lithium-ion, or Li-ion, batteries and switch back to traditional ones on its A350 passenger jet as investigators probe Boeing 787 safety incidents, several people familiar with the matter said.
Airbus may ditch Li-ion for A350
A lot of international institutions prefer the (T+2) system," Sharkawy said about the demand for a switch back to T+0.
Egypt regulator wants stability to change trade rule
Maybe we should all switch our cancer donations to Mind to help them fight depression, and then when Cancer Research can no longer afford to run gloomy ad campaigns we could switch back?
Worthier cause
The nine-year-old had suffered plenty of disappointment since his RSA Chase victory back in 2008 but a switch back in trip proved the making of him last season.
SCHOLAR'S A SMART BET
Summary: After France's World Cup fiasco, new national team coach Laurent Blanc has said it is time to switch back to football.
Blanc wants France to return to football
23(Petra)- Jordan will switch back to summertime (daylight saving time) on Friday, March 27, according to a communiqu issued by Prime Minister Samir Rifai on March 23.
Jordan to switch back to summer time on March 27
This is his first run at Southwell, so we will have to see how he handles the track." Hughie Morrison, trainer of Miss Glitters "She just does not go on firm going and we thought it was best to switch back to the all-weather.
Zomerlust looks in fine form and cut looks perfect
Power distributor CEZ, a unit of Czech power group CEZ, could lose its licence unless it implemented the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission's order to switch back to monthly billing, the regulator's chairperson Konstantin Shoushulov said on July 4.
Licence to bill
As Beyer noted in her report, respondents said they would switch back from a purely natural/organic brand to a traditional brand if the traditional brand was now adhering to socially responsible or highly ethical behavior.
Clean & Simple
If I had lived in Australia for a few years, I'd probably be speaking like the natives and be able to switch back to Scottish if I wanted to.
Letter: Your view - Speak out