BACK DOWN
VERBS
1612 ► CRINKLE to abandon or shrink from one’s purpose; to fail to fulfil a promise; to yield sneakingly
E19.. ► FLUNK to back down or renege in a cowardly manner; to give in → US sl.
1843 ► DROP ONE’S FEATHERS to back down from a position → Amer. dial. obs.
1844 ► CRAWFISH to back out of an agreement; to yield or back down from a position; to be evasive → Amer. dial.
1853 ► TAKE WATER to back down, to retreat, to take refuge; to retract a statement → Amer. dial.
1855 ► LOWER ONE’S FEATHERS to back down from a position → Amer. dial. obs.
1864 ► PIKE OUT QUICKER THAN A WHIRLYGUST CHASING A STREAK OF LIGHTNING to back down speedily → Amer. dial.
1877 ► EAT BOILED CROW to back down from an untenable position; to ‘eat one’s words’; to assume the responsibility for what one has said or done → Amer. dial.
1885 ► EAT CROW to back down from an untenable position; to ‘eat one’s words’; to assume the responsibility for what one has said or done → Amer. dial.
1902 ► TAKE BACK WATER to back down on a brag or dare; to retreat; to refuse a challenge → Amer. dial.
1910 ► BACK UP to back down → US sl.
1913 ► GIG → GIG BACK to back down → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1913 ► RUE BACK to back down from a bargain → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1916 ► PIKE to back down; to fail or refuse to go with the crowd → Amer. dial.
1928 ► EAT DOG to back down from an untenable position; to ‘eat one’s words’; to assume the responsibility for what one has said or done → Amer. dial.
1935 ► GEEK (IT) to back down, to give up; to lose one’s nerve → US sl.
1949 ► HEAD IN to back down or yield in an argument; to keep or become quiet → Amer. dial.
1950 ► LOSE ONE’S ‘ARRIS to back down, to lose one’s nerve, to chicken out → sl.
1965 ► EAT TURKEY to back down from an untenable position; to ‘eat one’s words’; to assume the responsibility for what one has said or done → Amer. dial.
1967 ► PUSSY OUT to back down, to back out; to act like a coward → sl., orig. & chiefly US
1968 ► BACKFIRE to back down in an argument → Amer. dial.
1977 ► WUSS OUT to back down; to lose courage; to fail to do as promised → US sl.
1979 ► BOTTLE OUT to back down, to lose your nerve → UK sl.
1981 ► GO OUT THE BACK DOOR to back down from a confrontation → US sl.
1993 ► BONE OUT to back down from a confrontation; to run away from danger → US sl.
1999 ► BOTTLE → BOTTLE IT to back down, to lose your nerve → UK sl.
Lexicophilia 