give ground
Back off slowly
To give ground is to retreat or yield position, originally in military contexts where troops withdraw under pressure.
The phrase extends to any situation where someone backs down or concedes: She refused to give ground on the budget negotiations.
It implies reluctant concession rather than voluntary compromise—you give ground when pushed, not when persuaded.
- relentCease resistance or severity
- cedeFormally surrender possession
- fall backWithdraw from advance
- pull outTo withdraw or leave
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
beat a hasty retreat · acquiesce · withdraw · capitulate · throw in the towel · wave the white flag · backpedal · cave in · back down · stand back · draw off · pull back · move back · back out · step back · recoil · relinquish · budge
- retreatback away, back off, withdrawal, retreating, back up
- Giving Inback down, cave in, throw in the towel, wave the white flag, admit defeat
- giving upquit, quitting, surrender, I surrender, abandon
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
give groundgain ground
Move forward, advance
advance · push forward · press forward · charge · move forward
give groundstand firm
Refuse to retreat
hold ground · stand one's ground · hold the line · hold fast · dig in
give groundinsist
Assert with determination
stand firm · dig in one's heels · stick to one's guns · persist · demand
give, ground, yield, given, giving, background, grounds, giver, playground