What does 'back down' mean?

What it means: To withdraw from a position, demand, or confrontation — usually under pressure. When someone backs down, they've been in a conflict and have chosen to retreat.

"After the protests, the company backed down on the price increase."
"He wouldn't back down, even when the evidence proved him wrong."
"She backed down from her original demand."

What it implies: There's often a power dynamic. Backing down can look like wisdom (knowing when to concede) or weakness (capitulating under pressure), depending on context and how it's framed.

Difference from "give in": Backing down is often from a stated position in a conflict or negotiation. Giving in is often to an ongoing pressure or temptation. Backs down = retreats from a stance; gives in = yields to persuasion.

Register: Neutral. Common in news, political, business, and everyday contexts.

Tags: phrasal verbs, conflict, negotiation, positions