row back

Verb

row back (third-person singular simple present rows back, present participle rowing back, simple past and past participle rowed back)

1. (UK, idiomatic) To change or revise a previous opinion or decision.
   • Indeed, part of the problem was that Armstrong was rowing back on so much previous behaviour and years of aggressive lambasting of reporters, officials and team-mates who had claimed he was doping. "I don't forgive Lance Armstrong, who lied to me in two interviews. And I suspect most of America...2013 January 19, Paul Harris, “Lance Armstrong faces multi-million dollar legal challenges after confession”, in The Guardian
   • Labour has rowed back from a plan for new rolling stock to be procured and owned in the public sector - with the party's rail spokesman saying it is not a priority.2022 October 5, “Network News: Private sector's role in a publicly-owned railway”, in RAIL, number 967, page 16