If you back-pedal, you express a different or less forceful opinion about something from the one you have previously expressed.
例句
Allen back-pedalled, saying that he had had no intention of offending them...艾伦退缩了，说他无意冒犯他们。He appeared to back-pedal on that statement.他看起来想要收回声明中说过的话。
VERB
变卦；出尔反尔；背弃诺言
If you say that someone back-pedals, you disapprove of their behaviour because they are not doing what they promised.
例句
She's backpedaled twice already...她已经两次变卦了。The cabinet may backpedal on these commitments.内阁可能背弃这些承诺。