fall back

reculer, se replier

S’éloigner d’un ennemi ou d’un danger pour rejoindre une position plus sûre.

En anglais simple : To move away from an enemy or danger to a safer position.

• The troops fell back.
• We fell back to a safer position.
• The commander ordered everyone to fall back before the next attack.

Comment l'utiliser : fall back to a place (The soldiers fell back to the bridge.)

Synonymes : retreat, withdraw

Contraires : advance

Expressions courantes : fall back slowly, fall back to safety

tomber en arrière

Tomber vers l’arrière.

En anglais simple : To fall toward a place behind you.

• He fell back onto the sofa.
• She stumbled and fell back into my arms.
• The force of the wave made him fall back.

Comment l'utiliser : fall back onto/into something (She lost her balance and fell back onto the bed.)

Synonymes : fall backward

Expressions courantes : fall back onto something, fall back into something

reculer les horloges

Reculer les horloges d’une heure à la fin de l’heure d’été.

En anglais simple : To put clocks one hour earlier when summer time ends.

• We fall back this Sunday.
• Remember to fall back an hour tonight.
• When we fell back, I enjoyed the extra hour in bed.

Synonymes : put the clocks back

Contraires : spring forward

Expressions courantes : fall back tonight, fall back an hour

manquer à sa parole, renoncer

Ne pas faire ce qu’on avait promis ou prévu de faire.

En anglais simple : To fail to do what you promised or intended.

• She fell back from her promise.
• They fell back from their purpose when trouble came.
• He vowed to help, then fell back from his undertaking.

Comment l'utiliser : fall back from a promise/purpose (He fell back from his promise to support them.)

Synonymes : renege, back out

Expressions courantes : fall back from something, fall back from promises