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back down on meaning and examples

2025-09-09

Meaning

  • Back down on means to withdraw, retreat, or give up a claim, demand, or position that one previously held, often after opposition or pressure.

Example: The company refused to back down on its decision to increase prices.

Grammar and Usage

  • Phrasal verb
  • Structure: back down on + noun/issue/matter
  • Used when someone decides not to continue insisting on something after being challenged.
  • Often appears in negative or argumentative contexts.

Example structures:

  • Subject + back down on + object
  • Refuse to back down on + object

Common Phrases

  • back down on a promise
  • back down on a decision
  • back down on a demand
  • back down on a statement

Collocations

  • refuse to back down on
  • eventually back down on
  • forced to back down on
  • unlikely to back down on

Examples

  1. The government refused to back down on its new tax policy.
  2. She wouldn’t back down on her demand for an apology.
  3. He finally backed down on the argument after realizing he was wrong.
  4. The union won’t back down on wage negotiations.
  5. They had to back down on their threats after facing legal action.
  6. The manager refused to back down on his decision despite criticism.
  7. The politician eventually backed down on his controversial remarks.
  • give in on
  • withdraw from
  • concede
  • relent
  • climb down on

Antonym

  • insist on
  • stand firm on
  • stick to
  • hold on to