Backpedal vs Backslide - What's the difference?
backpedal | backslide |
To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
To step backwards.
(idiomatic) To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.
To regress; to slip backwards or revert to a previous, worse state.
:He felt better for a little while, before his condition started to backslide .
To shirk responsibility; to renege on one's obligations or commitments.
:Rich countries are backsliding on their commitment to agree to new WTO measures to help people in poor countries gain access to affordable medicines. —
As verbs the difference between backpedal and backslide
is that backpedal is to pedal backwards on a bicycle while backslide is to regress; to slip backwards or revert to a previous, worse state.backpedal
English
Verb
- The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.
- Though initially adopting a hard-line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal .
Synonyms
* (distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement) climb downbackslide
English
Verb
English irregular verbsOxfam press release, 24 June 2002