ALL meanings of back down
back down
B b - phrasal verb back down If you back down, you withdraw a claim, demand, or commitment that you made earlier, because other people are strongly opposed to it. 3
- verb back down to withdraw an earlier claim 3
- verb back down to cause (a boat) to move backwards by pushing rather than pulling on the oars 3
- noun back down abandonment of an earlier claim 3
- noun back down to withdraw from a position or a claim 3
- noun back down the rear part of the human body, extending from the neck to the lower end of the spine. 1
- noun back down the part of the body of animals corresponding to the human back. 1
- noun back down the rear portion of any part of the body: the back of the head. 1
- noun back down the whole body, with reference to clothing: the clothes on his back. 1
- noun back down ability for labor; effort; endurance: He put his back into the task. 1
- noun back down the part opposite to or farthest from the front; the rear part: the back of a hall. 1
- noun back down the part that forms the rear of any object or structure: the back of a chair. 1
- noun back down the part that covers the back: the back of a jacket. 1
- noun back down the spine or backbone: The fall broke his back. 1
- noun back down any rear part of an object serving to support, protect, etc.: the back of a binder. 1
- noun back down Nautical, Aeronautics. the forward side of a propeller blade (opposed to face (def 20.)). 1
- noun back down Aeronautics. the top part or upper surface of an aircraft, especially of its fuselage. 1
- noun back down Bookbinding. the edge of a book formed where its sections are bound together. 1
- noun back down the backs, grounds along the River Cam in back of certain colleges at Cambridge University in England: noted for their great beauty. 1
- noun back down Architecture. extrados. 1
- noun back down Carpentry. the upper side of a joist, rafter, handrail, etc. the area of interior wall between a window stool and the floor. 1
- noun back down Mining. the roof of a stope or drift. 1
- noun back down Sports. a player whose regular position is behind that of players who make initial contact with the opposing team, as behind the forward line in football or nearest the player's own goal in polo. the position occupied by this player. 1
- verb with object back down to support, as with authority, influence, help, or money (often followed by up): to back a candidate; to back up a theory with facts. 1
- verb with object back down to bet on: to back a horse in the race. 1
- verb with object back down to cause to move backward (often followed by up): to back a car. 1
- verb with object back down to furnish with a back: to back a book. 1
- verb with object back down to lie at the back of; form a back or background for: a beach backed by hills. 1
- verb with object back down to provide with an accompaniment: a singer backed by piano and bass. 1
- verb with object back down to get upon the back of; mount. 1
- verb with object back down to write or print on the back of; endorse; countersign. 1
- verb with object back down Carpentry. to attach strips of wood to the upper edge of (a joist or rafter) to bring it to a desired level. 1
- verb with object back down Nautical. to alter the position of (a sail) so that the wind will strike the forward face. to brace (yards) in backing a sail. to reinforce the hold of (an anchor) by means of a smaller one attached to it and dropped farther away. 1
- verb without object back down to go or move backward (often followed by up). 1
- verb without object back down Nautical. (of wind) to change direction counterclockwise (opposed to veer). 1
- adjective back down situated at or in the rear: at the back door; back fence. 1
- adjective back down far away or removed from the front or main area, position, or rank; remote: back settlements. 1
- adjective back down belonging to the past: back files; back issues. 1
- adjective back down in arrears; overdue: back pay. 1
- adjective back down coming or going back; moving backward: back current. 1
- adjective back down Navigation. reciprocal (def 7). 1
- adjective back down Phonetics. (of a speech sound) produced with the tongue articulating in the back part of the mouth, as in either of the sounds of go. 1
- idioms back down back and fill, Nautical. to trim the sails of a boat so that the wind strikes them first on the forward and then on the after side. to change one's opinion or position; vacillate. 1
- idioms back down back and forth, South Midland U.S. to go back and forth, as in running errands or visiting: He spent the day backing and forthing to the post office. to work in an aimless or ineffective way; expend effort with little result. 1
- idioms back down back water, Nautical. to reverse the direction of a vessel. to retreat from a position; withdraw an opinion: I predict that the council will back water on the tax issue. 1
- idioms back down be flat on one's back, to be helpless or beaten: He's flat on his back after a long succession of failures. to be confined to one's bed because of illness. 1
- idioms back down behind one's back, in one's absence; without one's knowledge; treacherously; secretly: I'd rather talk to him about it directly than discuss it behind his back. 1
- idioms back down break someone's back, to cause a person to fail, especially to cause to become bankrupt: His family's extravagance is breaking his back. 1
- idioms back down break the back of, to complete the principal or hardest part of (a project, one's work, etc.): He finally broke the back of the problem. to overcome; defeat: They broke the back of our union. 1
- idioms back down get off one's back, Informal. to cease to find fault with or to disturb someone: The fight started when they wouldn't get off my back. 1