Meaning of fall back in English

Table of contents

Verb
fall back
Definitions
1. fall backwards and down
2. hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.
Derived terms
3. move back and away from
Examples
- « The enemy fell back »
Antonyms
Derived terms
4. retreat
Antonyms
Derived terms
5. have recourse to
Examples
- « The government resorted to rationing meat »
Derived terms
6. go back to bad behavior
Examples
- « Those who recidivate are often minor criminals »
Derived terms

Famous quotes

« We have need of history in its entirety, not to fall back into it, but to see if we can escape from it. »
Jose Ortega y Gasset
« You can't fall back on the private sector and say, 'You take care of the nation's banking system.' That's a fundamental function of the government, the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC, etc. All of those agencies have a major role to play there. »
Dick Cheney
« As long as she is talented enough and passionate about doing it herself then I will be happy and support her. I think I will be sensible - my parents said I could only do it if I got my education and so I had something to fall back on. »
Anna Friel
« It's only when you're alone that you realize where you are. You have nothing to fall back on except your own resources. »
Paul Theroux
« Failure sometimes enlarges the spirit. You have to fall back upon humanity and God. »
Charles Horton Cooley