backpedal
Pronunciation:
/ˈbækˌpɛdəɫ//ˈbækˌpɛdəɫ/verb
Definitions
To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
To step backwards.
Example: The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.
To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.
Example: Though initially adopting a hard-line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal.