to row back on
1
7.9
- phrasal verb
- UK
:
retroceder
- In light of the new evidence, the company agreed to row back on its previous stance regarding the policy.
These cuts are also very difficult to row back on.
- These cuts are also very difficult to row back on.
Examples
-
The politician had to row back on his controversial statement following public backlash.
-
Now, he's gonna want you to row back... ...on that "unforeseeable" thing on Question Time tonight.
-
Judy and I were thinking that I could row back on Question Time tonight.
-
After considering the opinions of his advisors, he decided to row back on his earlier commitment to the project.
Synonyms
162
3.4
To move yourself and things backward from a place, person, or situation
109
4.9
To officially cancel a previous decision, especially by a court
107
3.7
To stop insisting because others oppose you
103
3.7
To take back something you said before, especially in public
79
3.4
Decide not to do something you promised to do
61
3.5
Say that what you said before was wrong and you no longer believe it
59
3.9
Stop supporting or taking part in a plan because you feel unsure
44
8.6
Say publicly that you no longer believe something you said before
41
6.0
To take back a statement or opinion in public
33
4.1
Break a promise or agreement
25
8.5
To break a promise or agreement and not do what you said you would do
12
5.5
To change a decision or plan and go in a different direction
10
6.5
To try to change a previous statement or position to avoid criticism
3
6.2
Take back a public statement or position after pressure
Take back a promise or support you gave
Change a plan or decision so the opposite happens
Antonyms
How Much
- Formal
109
4.9
- Formal
41
6.0
- UK
1
7.9
42
4.3
119
3.9
317
2.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The particle 'back' signals reversal or retreat, which gives a partial clue that the phrase involves withdrawing, but the constituent 'row' (given here as a noun meaning an argument) and the preposition 'on' do not transparently combine to yield 'withdraw from a promise/decision.' The overall meaning therefore has a recognizable component (reversal) but requires prior exposure to the verbalized construction and its idiomatic use, making it only partially predictable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
The phrasal verb row back on may come from the picture of someone in a boat who starts to row back, moving in the opposite direction. That's why row back on now means 'take back' or 'reverse' a decision or statement.