hang back

to show uncertainty about the right course of action even though the young mother wanted the job, she still hung back because she wasn't sure if she should spend time away from her family Synonyms balance, dither, falter, halt, hesitate, scruple, shilly-shally, stagger, teeter, vacillate, waver, wobble (also wabble)Related Words haw, hem; dally, dawdle, delay, linger, pause, procrastinate, wait; back down, chicken (out); consider, debate, deliberate, ponder, weigh; oscillate, sway; equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, waffleNear Antonyms decide; budge, stir; advance, continueAntonyms dive (in), plunge (in)