hang back

verb

1. intr, adverboften foll byfrom to be reluctant to go forward or carry on (with some activity)

Idioms and Phrases

Be reluctant to move ahead, hold back. For example, They hung back at the entrance, fearful that they wouldn't be admitted , or We hung back to let our parents go in first . [Second half of 1500s]

Example Sentences

The Harris campaign has mostly hung back from directly engaging with the various group calls, except when Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff surprised a Black gay and queer men’s group by joining a call last week.

From Los Angeles Times

This enabled Trump to hang back, as well.

From Salon

Dad lets me and JP check out the museum on our own while he and Uncle Ty hang back and talk.

From Literature

The police hung back, and students abided their directive that activity end at 10 p.m.

From New York Times

As she relates in “Chita: A Memoir,” written with Patrick Pacheco, she always “hung back” when cast members went out after shows to drink and flirt and belt out show tunes.

From New York Times