back-pedallingn.
1. Cycling. The action of pressing down upon the pedal as it rises, in order to check the movement of the wheel. Also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > cycling > [noun] > back-pedalling
back-pedalling1887
1887 Viscount Bury & G. L. Hillier Cycling (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) xiii. 377 This form of clutch..does not admit of back-pedalling.
1898 J. Pennell in Fortn. Rev. Jan. 63 An endless number of back-pedalling brakes have been brought out during the last year.
2. figurative. The checking of a forward movement, the reversing of an action.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [noun] > retiring, withdrawing, or retreating
recoilc1330
retreata1393
subtraction?a1425
back-drawing1535
retirement1536
retiring1548
retraict1550
recess1561
retire1570
retiral1611
subducing1633
retiration1637
withdrawment1640
retirance1662
retreating1664
retraction1684
retreatment1721
withdrawal1824
back-pedalling1950
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun]
reversec1487
retraction1536
relent1580
declension1597
relentance1629
resentment1646
intercision1647
relenting1694
back-down1862
backing-down1883
back-pedalling1950
step-down1973
1950 J. Dempsey Championship Fighting xviii. 116 They sprout bad punching habits while concentrating on blocking, parrying, back-pedalling and the like.
1958 Oxf. Mag. 29 May 466/1 Is there not a trace of cold feet in this bit of back-pedalling about Keble?
Derivatives
back-pedal v. [as a back-formation] intransitive and transitive; also as n. (attributive).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose [verb (intransitive)]
wendOE
divert1430
to turn one's tale1525
relent1528
revolt1540
resile?a1597
crinkle1612
to throw in (or up) one's cards1688
to box the compass1714
to turn round1808
crawfish1848
to back down1849
duff1883
back-pedal1891
punk1920
back-track1947
to back off1961
society > travel > transport > cycling > cycle [verb (intransitive)] > pedal > back-pedal
back-pedal1891
society > travel > transport > cycling > cycle [verb (transitive)] > pedal > back-pedal
back-pedal1891
1891 Ld. Albemarle & G. L. Hillier Cycling (ed. 3) 373 A break should always be used—it is absurd to do hard work back pedalling down-hill.
1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 268/1 Do not back-pedal too suddenly, or you may break your chain.
1898 J. Pennell in Fortn. Rev. Jan. 60 The machine can be back-pedalled.
1901 ‘H. McHugh’ John Henry 11 You back-pedal so hard that you grab for your hat.
1927 W. E. Collinson Contemp. Eng. 32 Note here the slang use of back pedal!, vulgò also come off it, hold hard.
1940 W. H. Auden Another Time 73 She'd a bicycle with..a harsh back-pedal brake.
1955 M. Gilbert Sky High viii. 109 It's not quite fair to ask me if I'm happy about his handling of the case... I've got a feeling..that he's going to back-pedal on it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.1887