backpedal
US /ˈbækˌped.əl/
UK /ˈbækˌped.əl/
1.
倒踩踏板, 倒踏煞車
reverse the pedals of a bicycle in order to apply a brake
:
•
He had to backpedal quickly to avoid hitting the car.
他不得不迅速倒踩踏板以避免撞到汽車。
•
The old bicycle allowed you to backpedal to brake.
那輛舊自行車允許你倒踩踏板來剎車。
2.
收回, 改變立場
reverse one's previous opinion or stand
:
•
After facing strong criticism, the politician had to backpedal on his controversial statement.
在面臨強烈批評後，這位政治家不得不收回他有爭議的言論。
•
The company tried to backpedal on its promise after realizing the high cost.
公司在意識到高成本後試圖收回承諾。