back down

To stop insisting on what you want or believe during an argument or disagreement.

• Neither side would back down.
• She backed down when he showed her the evidence.
• Will the government back down on its demands?

How to use it: back down over/on something (The council backed down over the parking charges.)

Similar words: give way, yield, relent

Opposites: stand firm

Common phrases: back down completely, back down over something, never back down

To stop supporting a position or doing something you previously agreed to do.

• You promised, so do not back down now.
• She backed down from her commitment to help.
• They backed down from the deal at the last minute.

How to use it: back down from something (He backed down from his promise to fund the project.)

Similar words: back out, withdraw

Common phrases: back down from something, back down later, back down now

To make someone stop resisting or insisting on their demands.

• They backed the bully down.
• Firm questioning backed the witness down from his earlier claims.
• Could we back them down without using threats?

How to use it: back someone down (She backed him down by challenging his evidence.)

Similar words: make someone yield, force someone to relent

Common phrases: back someone down, back down opponents