verb [I] (present participle back-pedalling;past tense past participle back-pedalled (US 美) back-pedaling;back-pedaled) 1 back-pedal (on sth) to change an earlier statement or opinion; to not do sth that you promised to do 出尔反尔；背弃诺言: The protests have forced the government to back-pedal on plans to introduce a new tax. 抗议迫使政府收回提出新税制的计划。
2 to move your feet backwards when you are riding a bicycle in order to go backwards or slow down 倒踩（自行车的脚蹬）（以便倒行或放慢速度）