claws back
Reclaims with effort
Claws back means to recover or reclaim something that was previously given, lost, or taken away, typically through determined effort or legal mechanisms.
Companies claw back bonuses from executives who underperformed or acted improperly; governments claw back tax benefits when conditions aren't met.
The phrase suggests retrieval that requires struggle or force, like an animal using its claws.
The firm clawed back millions in executive compensation after the scandal.
It can also describe regaining ground more generally: The team clawed back from a ten-point deficit.
- recoupRegain a loss
- executive compensationSenior management earnings package
- reimburseReturn money owed
- make wholeCompensate completely for loss
- counteractNullify by opposing force
damage control · restitution · recover · retaliate · penalty · forfeiture · regain · reclaim · redress · refund · enforcement · outmaneuver · arbitration · litigation · offset · retrieve · adjust · reverse
claws backforfeits
Loses through violation
relinquishes · surrenders · writes off · abandons · lets go
claws backgives away
Transfers ownership freely
hands over · surrenders · yields · releases · parts with
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