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What does backpedal mean?

Looking for the meaning or definition of the word backpedal? Here's what it means.

Verb
  1. (intransitive) To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
  2. (intransitive) To step backwards.
  3. (intransitive, idiomatic) To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.
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Examples
Her attempts to pander to New York's militant minorities have repeatedly backfired, most famously when she endorsed her husband's pardon of a bunch of Puerto Rican nationalists, only to backpedal later.
They had to backpedal on that point and today they are going to support the Conservatives in their attempt to give more latitude to companies that will exploit the Colombian people.
The Conservatives who, at first, claimed that they had followed the law were eventually forced to backpedal, hence the similarity with this in and out scheme with respect to election expenses.
They are reluctant to openly criticise the influential Mr Limbaugh, and often seem to find themselves compelled to backpedal when they do.
The pedal is a two-step pedal without backpedal function.
This extra support may be timely, because the uncomfortable truth is that her encounter with Nick Ferrari was not the first time Bennett has had to backpedal on or clarify an interview.

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