pulling back
Moving away deliberately
Pulling back is withdrawing or retreating from a position, commitment, or action.
Troops pull back from the front lines.
Investors pull back from risky markets.
Someone emotionally pulling back is becoming more distant or guarded: She felt him pulling back after their argument.
The phrase can also mean physically drawing something toward oneself: pulling back the curtain.
Withdrawing a statement
- tuggingPulling with short jerks
- yankingPulling abruptly
- haulingTransporting heavy items
- wrenchingForceful turning or yanking
dragging · tension · grip · release · coiling · recoil · elastic · spring
Act of taking away
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
backing off · receding · departure · recoil · backtrack · retire · vacate · regrouping
State of being unsure
- indecisionFailure to decide
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- reluctanceDisinclination to act
- tentativenessState of being uncertain
ambivalence · second thoughts · pause · vacillation · faltering · apprehension · nervousness · reservation
Ability to restrain impulses
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- reining inExercising control over
curbing · checking · bridling · containment · curtailment · limitation · regulation · suppression
Disposal of assets
- liquidationSelling assets for cash
- selling offDisposing of holdings quickly
- scaling downReducing proportionally
- cutting lossesAccepting small defeat early
unwinding · deleveraging · risk reduction · capital preservation · profit-taking · hedging · reallocation
retracting
Withdrawing a statement
wrenching · dragging · tension · grip · release · coiling · recoil · elastic · spring · bow
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- evacuationRemoval from danger
retreat · backing off · receding · departure · recoil · backtrack · retire · vacate · regrouping · giving ground
uncertainty
State of being unsure
- indecisionFailure to decide
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- reluctanceDisinclination to act
tentativeness · ambivalence · second thoughts · pause · vacillation · faltering · apprehension · nervousness · reservation · qualms
self-control
Ability to restrain impulses
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
reining in · curbing · checking · bridling · containment · curtailment · limitation · regulation · suppression · inhibition
divestment
Disposal of assets
- liquidationSelling assets for cash
- selling offDisposing of holdings quickly
- scaling downReducing proportionally
cutting losses · unwinding · deleveraging · risk reduction · capital preservation · profit-taking · hedging · reallocation
- withdrawalwithdrawing, cash withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, early withdrawal, fund withdrawal
- avoidanceavoidance, distancing, evasion, dodging, pulling away
- retreatwithdrawal, retreating, backing up, backing away, backing off
- Horse Problemscribbing, weaving, bucking, rearing, biting
- disgustdisgust, disgusting, disgusted, revulsion, repulsion
- hesitatingpausing, stalling, wavering, faltering, delaying
pulling backpushing forward
Continuing toward a goal
pressing ahead · pushing ahead · pushing · advancing · propelling
pulling backleaning in
Tilting body forward
diving in · committing · engaging · doubling down · going all in
back, pull, backward, backed, backer, backs, pulley, pulls, pulled