different between backtrack vs backpedal

English

Etymology

back +? track

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?bæk.t?æk/

Noun

backtrack (plural backtracks)

1. the act of backtracking

Translations

Verb

backtrack (third-person singular simple present backtracks, present participle backtracking, simple past and past participle backtracked)

1. To retrace one's steps.

   I dropped my sunglasses and had to backtrack to find them.

2. To repeat or review work already done.

   If we backtrack through this problem, maybe we can figure out where we went wrong.

3. (aviation) To taxi down an active runway in the opposite direction to that being used for takeoff.

   Speedbird One: enter and backtrack Runway 27 Left.

4. To exercise a racehorse around the racetrack in the opposite direction to that in which races are run.

Derived terms

• backtracker
• backtracking (noun)

Translations

Anagrams

• TrackBack, trackback

English

Alternative forms

• back-pedal

Etymology

back +? pedal

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?bæk?p?d??/

Verb

backpedal (third-person singular simple present backpedals, present participle (US) backpedaling or (UK) backpedalling, simple past and past participle (US) backpedaled or (UK) backpedalled)

1. (intransitive) To pedal backwards on a bicycle.
2. (intransitive) To step backwards.

   The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.

3. (intransitive, idiomatic) To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.

   Though initially adopting a hard-line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal.

Synonyms

• (distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement): climb down

Derived terms

• backpedal brake (on a bicycle)
• backpedaler, backpedaller

Translations