0 to move the pedals (= parts you operate with your feet) backwards on a bicycle:
1 to change an opinion that you had expressed before, or do something different from what you had said you would do:
The country is moving in the right direction, but should not backpedal.
We are backpedalling pretty desperately before we get on our feet, if such a thing be possible.
When questioned, he quickly backpedalled and said that he meant to say that it would be a measuring stick and an experiment.
I am not backpedalling on my praise of the procurator fiscal system, but we have to be careful about the extent to which we extend his role.
The people who are supposed to be paying for them—the banks—have not agreed them, so now he is backpedalling fast and no contracts have been signed.
Having seen the earlier document, one appreciates that this provision is a piece of elegant backpedalling in an attempt to save face on the broad principle.
While others maintain that he simply injured his knee, while backpedalling, and was unable to continue.
The critics initially panned the show, but when it became clear the public loved it, most of them backpedalled.
