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backpedal in French

backpedal in French is rétropédaler, reculer, faire machine arrière — backpedal means to turn a bicycle's pedals in the opposite direction to normal.

backpedal in French

rétropédaler
verb
(intransitive) To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
reculer
verb
(intransitive) To step backwards.
faire machine arrière
verb
(intransitive, idiomatic) To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.
faire marche arrière
verb
(intransitive, idiomatic) To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.
rétropédaler
verb
(intransitive, idiomatic) To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.

What does "backpedal" mean?

  1. verb To turn a bicycle's pedals in the opposite direction to normal.
  2. verb To walk or move backwards.
    "The player had to backpedal before catching the ball."
  3. verb To withdraw from something you said or believed earlier.
    "Though initially adopting a hard-line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal."
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backpedal in a sentence

  • The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.
  • Though initially adopting a hard-line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal.
  • Adidas is backpedaling fast over its latest attempt to protect its iconic three-stripe mark.

Similar words in French

Common French translations

Frequently asked questions

What is "backpedal" in French?
"backpedal" in French is rétropédaler, reculer, faire machine arrière. backpedal means: To turn a bicycle's pedals in the opposite direction to normal.
Are there other ways to say "backpedal" in French?
Yes — French has 4 translations listed for "backpedal": rétropédaler, reculer, faire machine arrière, faire marche arrière.
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Translations from WikDict, CC BY-SA · example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR.