fall back

verb

1. to recede or retreat
2. foll byon or upon to have recourse (to)

noun

1. a retreat
2. a reserve, esp money, that can be called upon in need
3. 1. anything to which one can have recourse as a second choice
   2. ( as modifier )

      a fall-back position

Example Sentences

I fall back into a dream and then suddenly there is a tapping on the window just above my bed.

From The Daily Beast

Some contemporary police have military backgrounds to fall back on.

From The Daily Beast

Fighters from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other groups did not fall back.

From The Daily Beast

After each battle, though, the Union forces danced around the Confederate lines, forcing rebel troops to fall back.

From The Daily Beast

Smokers, for example, who may have gone weeks without a cigarette could fall back into a habit after just one slip-up.

From The Daily Beast

At last even Massna had to confess himself beaten and fall back on Santarem.

From Project Gutenberg

Either: we cannot give you what you ask, so fall back onto the defensive; or, go ahead, we will give you the means.

From Project Gutenberg

The next moment he understood what the last resource was the two men were going to fall back upon.

From Project Gutenberg

He may be in danger here, but there is almost certain ruin before him if he is left to fall back into his old way of life.

From Project Gutenberg

But after an obstinate and bloody conflict they were compelled to fall back with a loss of 1700 killed and 500 prisoners.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• recede
• withdraw