step back
Pronunciation:
noun
Definitions
A reversion to a former state or situation.
verb
Definitions
To stop what one is doing and evaluate the current situation.
Example: Perhaps we should step back for a second and think about solving this problem a different way.
To prevent oneself from becoming emotionally involved in a certain situation.
Example: As a therapist sometimes you have to step back from your clients' lives.
(of a driver at a terminal station) to depart driving the train following the train they arrived into the station driving, so as to decrease service turnaround time.