back-pedal

verb

1. 收回（意见等）；（立场）软化；出尔反尔
   to change an earlier statement or opinion; to not do sth that you promised to do
   1. The protests have forced the government to back-pedal on the new tax.
      抗议活动已迫使政府撤销新的税目。
2. 倒踩自行车的脚蹬；倒走；倒跑
   to pedal backwards on a bicycle; to walk or run backwards

The forms backpedaling and back-pedaled are used in American English. 美国英语中使用backpedaling和back-pedaled。


1. VERB 改变立场；软化；退缩
   If you back-pedal, you express a different or less forceful opinion about something from the one you have previously expressed.
   1. Allen back-pedalled, saying that he had had no intention of offending them...
      艾伦退缩了，说他无意冒犯他们。
   2. He appeared to back-pedal on that statement.
      他看起来想要收回声明中说过的话。
2. VERB 变卦；出尔反尔；背弃诺言
   If you say that someone back-pedals, you disapprove of their behaviour because they are not doing what they promised.
   1. She's backpedaled twice already...
      她已经两次变卦了。
   2. The cabinet may backpedal on these commitments.
      内阁可能背弃这些承诺。

1. Allen back-pedalled, saying that he had had no intention of offending them
   艾伦退缩了，说他无意冒犯他们。
2. He appeared to back-pedal on that statement.
   他看起来想要收回声明中说过的话。
3. You may have to back-pedal to find ways to make a present endeavor more compelling and marketable.
   你可能不得不背弃一些东西才能找到让现在的努力更加令人瞩目的方法。