English Expression · Intermediate
climb down
An abandonment, withdrawal from, or softening of a previously expressed opinion, policy, argument, etc
Pronunciation: say climb down
Meaning
An abandonment, withdrawal from, or softening of a previously expressed opinion, policy, argument, etc.
Example
It is interesting to speculate on what combination of factors acted within the Bush administration to bring about the climb-down from its previous position.
It is interesting to speculate on what combination of factors acted within the Bush administration to bring about the climb-down from its previous position.
Practice tips
- Practice climb down out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English expression is for intermediate-level learners.