backs down
Abandons the fight
Backs down means to withdraw from a position or confrontation, typically under pressure.
Someone who backs down abandons a claim, threat, or challenge rather than following through: He threatened to sue but backed down when he saw the evidence against him.
The phrase often implies reluctance or loss of face: She refused to back down despite criticism.
- cave inCollapse or yield
- white flagSignal of capitulation
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- throws in the towelConcedes defeat completely
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
withdraw · acquiesce · capitulates · eats crow · recants · cowers · retreat · olive branch · relents · yield · give in · submit · reconsiders · has second thoughts · fold · compromises · defer · doubts
confrontational persistence
backs downstands one's ground
doubles down · escalates · stands up · digs in · holds fast
back, backs, backed, backing, backings, backer, backers, backward, backwards