- to backpedal
- Приостанавливаться, тормозить. Выражение to backpedal используется в переносном смысле, означая «действовать с меньшим энтузиазмом», «уменьшить свою активность и преданность делу», «идти на попятную». В начале XX в. на смену прежнему заднему колесу велосипеда пришло свободно вращающееся колесо, которое позволяло тормозить при крутящихся назад педалях.
The government promised to cut taxes and pour more money into education and the health service. But now it is backpedalling furiously. — Правительство обещало уменьшить налоги и предоставить больше средств на образование и здравоохранение. Но сейчас оно упорно идёт на попятную.
English-Russian dictionary of expressions. 2014.
Смотреть что такое "to backpedal" в других словарях:
backpedal — ack ped*al v. i. 1. pedal backwards, as on a bicycle. [WordNet 1.5] 2. step backwards, in boxing. [WordNet 1.5] 3. modify one opinion, usually by making it less strong or adding qualifications. [WordNet 1.5] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
backpedal — [bak′ped΄ l] vi. backpedaled or backpedalled, backpedaling or backpedalling 1. to press backward on the pedals of a bicycle, as to brake ☆ 2. to move backward quickly, as in boxing to avoid blows ☆ 3. to retract an earlier opinion * * * back … Universalium
backpedal — [bak′ped΄ l] vi. backpedaled or backpedalled, backpedaling or backpedalling 1. to press backward on the pedals of a bicycle, as to brake ☆ 2. to move backward quickly, as in boxing to avoid blows ☆ 3. to retract an earlier opinion … English World dictionary
backpedal — verb a) To pedal backwards on a bicycle. The player had to backpedal before catching the ball. b) To step backwards. Though initially adopting a hard line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal … Wiktionary
backpedal — UK [ˈbækˌped(ə)l] / US [bækˈped(ə)l] / US [ˈbækˌped(ə)l] verb [intransitive] Word forms backpedal : present tense I/you/we/they backpedal he/she/it backpedals present participle backpedalling past tense backpedalled past participle backpedalled… … English dictionary
backpedal — intransitive verb Date: 1901 to retreat or move backward … New Collegiate Dictionary
backpedal — Synonyms and related words: arrest, back, back away, back off, back out, back up, backtrack, backtrail, backwater, brake, check, clip the wings, countermarch, crawfish out, cry off, curb, decelerate, delay, detain, dodge, draw rein, duck, ease… … Moby Thesaurus
backpedal — I (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) v. retract, take back, recant, retreat, renege, back down. II (Roget s Thesaurus II) verb To move in a reverse direction: back, backtrack, fall back, retreat, retrocede, retrograde, retrogress. Idiom: retrace one s… … English dictionary for students
backpedal — back|ped|al [ˌbækˈpedl US ˈbækˌpedl] v past tense and past participle backpedalled present participle backpedalling BrE past tense and past participle backpedaled present participle backpedaling AmE [I] 1.) to change your opinion or not do… … Dictionary of contemporary English
backpedal — back|ped|al [ bæk pedl, bæk,pedl ] (present participle back|ped|al|ing or back|ped|al|ling; past tense and past participle back|ped|aled or back|ped|alled) verb intransitive 1. ) to show that you are no longer certain about a previous opinion,… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
backpedal — v. pedal backwards; change one s opinion … English contemporary dictionary