back down
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle down
Meanings
Withdraw from a position
Why “down”? A structure, a system, or someone's mood can go down when it fails.
“He refused to back down from the argument.”
“The union would not back down.”
Don't confuse with
Back down means withdraw from a position. Back up means make a digital copy of data as a safeguard.
Test yourself
“He refused to back down from the argument.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
back up
A contrast learners often mix up
Make a digital copy of data as a safeguard; Support someone's claim, story or position; Move backward along the same path; (of traffic or water) accumulate because flow is blocked
break down
Same down pattern: losing
(of a vehicle or machine) stop working; Lose emotional control and start crying; Separate something into smaller parts to understand it; (of negotiations or relationships) fail or end; Force a door open by hitting it; Decompose into simpler chemical substances
bring down
Same down pattern: losing
Cause something to fall or land; Make something lower in level or amount; Cause a government or leader to lose power; Make someone feel sad or depressed
burn down
Same down pattern: losing
Destroy a building completely by fire
close down
Same down pattern: losing
Permanently stop a business or service
cut down
Same down pattern: losing
Reduce the amount of something; Fell a tree by cutting at its base; Kill or seriously injure many people quickly
fall down
Same down pattern: losing
Drop to the ground from an upright position; (of a plan or argument) fail because of a weakness
get down
Same down pattern: losing
Descend or lower yourself; Depress someone emotionally; Capture in writing or recording; Swallow food, drink, or medicine, especially with difficulty; Begin to focus seriously on a task
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “back down”.
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