drop back

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <a change in the wind direction forced the firefighters to drop back> Synonyms back away, retreat, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, withdrawRelated Words flee, fly; flinch, recoil, shrink; chicken (out); bow out; back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down; detach, disengage, disentangle, pull away; abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacateNear Antonyms beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbraveAntonyms advance