Do you back-pedal often?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
August 17, 2020 10:14pm CST
I found myself using ‘back-pedalling’ in a comment recently and it struck me that it’s another of those terms that may not be universally known.
To back-pedal is to change one’s opinion or stance on a particular subject. So, I might say in jest that my husband was unkind not to cook my dinner but, if someone doesn’t realise I’m joking, I might be forced to back-pedal and explain my comment.
I wonder if the term originated from the early days of bicycle manufacture. Back-pedalling in those days referred to pressing back on the pedal which effectively functioned as a brake. Bikes also had hand-brakes. Having never owned a bike, I don’t know when they came into use. Nowadays, of course, bikes have a multitude of gears, brakes, lights, etc.
Photo of two American touists who cycled across Australia and stayed with us for a night as couch-surfers.
16 people like this
17 responses
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
18 Aug 20
Back pedalling can act as brakes by slowing down the speed. But not as good at hand brakes. And we can stop pedalling so as to reduce the speed as well
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 20
@amitkokiladitya It has a benefit on the right sort of bike.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
18 Aug 20
@JudyEv yes...true..back pedalling actually has no benefit
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@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 20
Some of them have a Masters in back-pedalling I think.
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
18 Aug 20
Thank you for sharing the idiom. Sometimes we have to back-pedal when we realize that we are not accurate or worse when we are really wrong. But for the bullies, I do not back pedal. I enjoy the spite on their mouth. Waheehee, sadistic me.
3 people like this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
18 Aug 20
@JudyEv seriously, it happens to me too and I guess it happens to others too.
1 person likes this
@jayanth_77 (7179)
• India
18 Aug 20
yes backpedalling is a less used word for taking back a comment made usually when it becomes controversial.
3 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
18 Aug 20
I still own a bicycle with brakes that I use by back pedalling. I seem to have problems using the hand brakes. Maybe because when I learned to ride a bicycle this was my only option.
2 people like this
@JESSY3236 (22199)
• United States
18 Aug 20
I have heard of the term backpedaling. I did own a bike when I was little, but I fall off it and never got back on a bike since then.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
18 Aug 20
Great photo. It was nice of you to open your home to them. Back-pedaling is used in the States. Have a great day.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Aug 20
@LindaOHio Me either but they seemed to manage. They came right across the Nullarbor which is basically desert with just a roadhouse every 100 miles or so.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
19 Aug 20
@JudyEv How interesting! I could never pack light enough to take a bike trip. lol
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@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 20
We have had a lot of couch-surfers in previous years although we don't have them now.
@happylife1 (13403)
• Karachi, Pakistan
18 Aug 20
Thanks for sharing such a nice word
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 20
You're very welcome. I hope you're staying safe. Are your virus numbers high?
