back down
Abandon your position
To back down is to withdraw from a position or demand, especially under pressure.
Someone who backs down abandons a confrontation they seemed ready for: He threatened to sue but backed down when they called his bluff.
The phrase suggests retreat without total defeat—you back down from a fight you chose not to have.
Yield under pressure
- submitPresent for consideration
- succumbYield to pressure
- relinquishVoluntarily give up control
- forfeitLose through violation
resign · abandon · white flag · truce · give in · give up · throw in towel · cry uncle
Confess or grant entry
- acknowledgeConfirm receipt or truth
- capitulateYield under pressure
- acquiesceSubmit without protest
- deferDelay or submit
accept · relent · submit · cave · yield · retract · recant · eat crow
Remove or pull away
- disengageBreak free from attachment
- recedeMove back from
- retireCease employment permanently
- recoilBackward force from discharge
regroup · give ground · lose ground · strategic withdrawal · tactical retreat · reverse course · de-escalate
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
- negotiateDiscuss to reach agreement
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
reconciliation · mediation · de-escalate · defuse · appease · mollify · placate · pacify
capitulate
Yield under pressure
- submitPresent for consideration
- succumbYield to pressure
- relinquishVoluntarily give up control
forfeit · resign · abandon · white flag · truce · give in · give up · throw in towel · cry uncle · wave white flag
admit
Confess or grant entry
- acknowledgeConfirm receipt or truth
- capitulateYield under pressure
- acquiesceSubmit without protest
defer · accept · relent · submit · cave · yield · retract · recant · eat crow · eat humble pie
withdraw
Remove or pull away
recoil · regroup · give ground · lose ground · strategic withdrawal · tactical retreat · reverse course · de-escalate
compromise
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
- negotiateDiscuss to reach agreement
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
resolution · reconciliation · mediation · de-escalate · defuse · appease · mollify · placate · pacify · smooth over
- Giving Ingive in, cave in, throw in the towel, wave the white flag, admit defeat
- resting positionslie flat, recline, repose, prone, supine
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- fighting wordsfight me, bring it, square up, throw hands, step outside
- giving upgive up, giving up, quit, quitting, surrender
- reversalsreverse, undo, revert, overturn, flip
back downstand firm
Refuse to retreat
hold one's ground · stand one's ground · persist · persevere · dig in