If you back-pedal, you express a different or less forceful opinion about something from the one you have previously expressed. Allen back-pedalled, saying that he had had no intention of offending them He appeared to back-pedal on that statement. = backtrack
disapproval If you say that someone back-pedals, you disapprove of their behaviour because they are not doing what they promised. She's backpedaled twice already The cabinet may backpedal on these commitments. + back-pedalling back-pedalling Britain's back-pedalling on reforms