climb down

[/klaɪm daʊn/]
phrasal verb
recuar, reconsiderar, abaixar a guarda
1. to descend from a higher position by climbing
The firefighters had to climb down from the roof carefully.
Os bombeiros tiveram que descer do telhado cuidadosamente escalando.
2. to admit that one was wrong or to back down from a previously held position, argument, or demand
After public criticism, the politician had to climb down from his controversial statement.
Após críticas públicas, o político teve que recuar de sua declaração controversa.
3. to retreat from a strong position in a negotiation or dispute
The company decided to climb down on its demands during the labor negotiations.
A empresa decidiu ceder em suas exigências durante as negociações trabalhistas.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, 'climb down' is frequently used in political and business discourse to describe when public figures or organizations reverse their positions. This carries social implications of loss of credibility or face-saving measures. The expression is particularly common in news media and informal discussions about political negotiations and corporate decisions.
NYC Slang
back off, fold, take the L
Synonyms / Sinônimos
back downback offretreatreconsidergive incapitulatedescend
Antonyms / Antônimos
stand firmpersistinsistclimb upascenddouble down

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
recuar
Most common usage for the figurative meaning of backing down from a position
Rio de Janeiro
dar um jeito
Colloquial alternative meaning to make a compromise or adjustment
São Paulo
voltar atrás
Common expression meaning to go back on one's word or decision
Portugal
recuar
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; figurative meaning of retreating from a stance

Related Words

climbdescentbacktrackconcedecompromiseretraction

Related Idioms & Phrases

eat one's words
have to eat crow
admit defeat
throw in the towel
lose face
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