backtrack
( backtracks 3rd person present) ( backtracking present participle) ( backtracked past tense & past participle ) , back-track
1 verb If you backtrackon a statement or decision you have made, you do or say something that shows that you no longer agree with it or support it.
(=back-pedal)
The committee backtracked by scrapping the controversial bonus system... V
The finance minister backtracked on his decision. V on/from n
♦
backtracking n-uncount
He promised there would be no backtracking on policies.
2 verb If you backtrack, you go back along a path or route you have just used.
Leonard jumped in his car and started backtracking... V
We had to backtrack to the corner and cross the street. V prep
3 verb If you backtrack in an account or explanation, you talk about things which happened before the ones you were previously talking about.
Can we just backtrack a little bit and look at your primary and secondary education? V
Translation English - Cobuild Collins Dictionary
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"Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners 4th edition published in 2003 © HarperCollins Publishers 1987, 1995, 2001, 2003 and Collins A-Z Thesaurus 1st edition first published in 1995 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995"