Backpedal
/ˈbækˌpɛd.əl/noun
To reverse one's position or opinion, especially in a way that indicates regret or reconsideration.
Did you know?The concept of backpedaling carries a deeper metaphorical weight, often linked to the idea of avoiding one's previous assertions, akin to a sorcerer retracting a spell gone awry.
Etymological Timeline
Late 19th Century
English
backpedal
“To move backward on a bicycle or to reverse a course of action.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ped-
“To foot or to walk; the root relating to movement by foot.”
Latin
Latin
pes
“Foot; a direct descendant of the PIE root.”
Old French
Old French
pedale
“Pedal; derived from Latin, referring to a foot-operated lever.”
Middle English
Middle English
pedal
“The term was adapted in English to refer to foot-operated devices in machinery.”
20th Century
Modern English
backpedal
“Adopted as a colloquial term to express retreating from a statement or position.”