| English > English |
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| back down |
| 1. v. To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to. |
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| I was about to sue them, but I had to back down. |
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| I was going to sue them, but now I'm going to have to back down. |
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| Analysis |
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| back |
| 1. adj. (not comparable) Near the rear. |
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| Go in the back door of the house. |
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| 2. adj. (not comparable) Not current. |
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| I’d like to find a back issue of that magazine. |
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| 3. adj. (not comparable) Far from the main area. |
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| down |
| 1. n. (especially southern England) A hill, especially a chalk hill; rolling grassland |
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| We went for a walk over the downs. |
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| The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England. |
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| 2. n. (usually plural) A field, especially one used for horse racing. |
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| 3. n. (mostly) A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep. |
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