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Backpedaled - What does it mean?

backpedaled | |

backpedaled

English

Alternative forms

* (UK) backpedalled

Verb

(head)
  • (US) (backpedal)

    • backpedal

    English

    Verb

  • To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
  • To step backwards.
    • The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.
  • (idiomatic) To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.
    • Though initially adopting a hard-line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal .

    Synonyms

    * (distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement) climb down

    Not English

    has no English definition. It may be misspelled.