walked back the cat

Verb

walk back the cat (third-person singular simple present walks back the cat, present participle walking back the cat, simple past and past participle walked back the cat)

1. To reconstruct the sequence of events in order to identify the point of failure in an operation and ascertain responsibility.
   • Bernhard had been called back to headquarters for a conference, a general review of current operations with special attention to methods and sources, connecting dots while they walked back the cat, a dispirited and dispiriting exercise.2007, Ward Just, Forgetfulness, page 110
2. To back down; to adopt a position where one is more willing to compromise.