climb down

• climb-down

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climb down (plural climb downs)

1. (idiomatic, sometimes hyphenated) An abandonment, withdrawal from, or softening of a previously expressed opinion, policy, argument, etc.
   • 2003 August 7, “Hope for Korea”, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, retrieved 30 June 2011, page A20:

     It is interesting to speculate on what combination of factors acted within the Bush administration to bring about the climb-down from its previous position.

   • 2003 September 27, “Mulyam shows his ‘secular’ face again, hits out at BJP”, in India Times, retrieved 30 June 2011:

     His climb-down from the "hard, secular" image was mainly to widen his support base.

   • 2010 April 24, “Editorial: Dalton McGuinty schooled on sex ed”, in Toronto Sun, Canada, retrieved 30 June 2011:

     Hours before his climb down, the premier's own cabinet ministers had vigorously defended the curriculum.

climb down (third-person singular simple present climbs down, present participle climbing down, simple past and past participle climbed down)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see climb,‎ down.

   It took 4 hours to climb up, and just 2 to climb down.

2. (idiomatic, sometimes followed by from) To abandon, withdraw from, or soften a previously expressed opinion, argument, etc.
   • 1992 July 27, Paul Lewis, “Inspectors begin search in Baghdad”, in The Day, Connecticut, USA, retrieved 30 June 2011, page A5:

     But Ekeus said Iraq had climbed down in its confrontation with the UN.

   • 1993 May 24, Michael Kramer, “The Political Interest: Drawing a Line in the Quicksand”, in Time:

     No, but it may be a way for Clinton to climb down from a policy he seems increasingly to view as a no-win proposition.

   • 2001 June 7, Morton Kondracke, “Quit arguing and develop policy to end energy woes”, in Reading Eagle, USA, retrieved 30 June 2011, page B9:

     If they are interested in climbing down from their oppositionism, Democrats ought to consult the Progressive Policy Institute, which has been critical of Bush, but which is developing a balanced, positive approach to the energy crisis.

• backpedal

• “climb down”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• downclimb