fall back
The phrase "fall back" is versatile, commonly used in military, strategic, and general contexts to describe retreating, relying on secondary options, or moving backward in progress.
Definition
B2Military
(technical)To retreat or withdraw from a position to regroup or avoid danger.
Example
- The troops were ordered to fall back to a safer position.
- In the face of heavy fire, the soldiers had to fall back.
B2General
To rely on a secondary plan or resource when the primary one fails.
Example
- If the main plan doesn't work, we can always fall back on our backup strategy.
- When his first idea was rejected, he had to fall back on his original plan.
B2Progress
To lag behind or lose progress in a task or activity.
Example
- Due to unforeseen circumstances, the project has fallen back by several weeks.
- He fell back in his studies after missing several classes.
B1Timekeeping
To turn the clocks back for daylight saving time.
Example
- Remember to fall back an hour this Sunday for daylight saving time.
- We fall back an hour in autumn to gain more daylight in the morning.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "fall back":
fall behindfall downfall tofall infall awayfall ondrop backfall togetherfall outfall offfall duefall into oneselfstep backfall overfall forfall intofall upfall throughback downdrop behindfall down onstay backmove backtake the fallpull backback outstepping backstand backfall to the groundfalling outwalk backget backgo back onroll backrun backbounce backsit backturn backback offtake a back seatfall in linedraw backpush backgo backwardsback awaycome backfall foulset backkick backtake a tumblelay backfall in withstay behindkeep backstand downback uplie backrow backfall to piecescome downstep downfalling togetherpull downlook backfall from gracefall upontake backhang behinddrop downcircle backfade awayback and fillfall off one's perchback intoflake outthrow backfalling leafgo back todrop offfall into a trapdrop intojump offclimb downgo downfall aparttake a diveknock backget back tomove downdrop inslide offhold backon the back foothit backfight backslip offfall asleeppull awayfall in loverear backduck downdrift offfruit fallcut backput backwalk back the catturn one's backget downcall down