moves backwards

[/muːvz ˈbækwərdz/]
verb phrase
se move para trás; recua
1. to change position by going in the opposite direction from which one is facing; to retreat or go back
The car moves backwards into the parking space.
O carro se move para trás no espaço de estacionamento.
2. to make progress in reverse; to regress or decline
The company moves backwards financially after the market crash.
A empresa recua financeiramente após o crash do mercado.
3. in dance or sports, to shift weight or position toward the rear
The dancer moves backwards across the stage gracefully.
A dançarina se move para trás no palco com graça.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'se move para trás' is the most common translation for physical movement backward, while 'recua' is preferred when expressing metaphorical retreat or regression. In American English, this phrase is frequently used in driving, dancing, and figurative contexts about progress.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
retreatsgoes backreversesrecedesregresses
Antonyms / Antônimos
moves forwardadvancesprogressesgoes ahead

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
se move para trás; recua
standard usage in most contexts
Rio de Janeiro
vai para trás; recua
common colloquial form
São Paulo
se move para trás
formal and standard usage
Portugal
move-se para trás; recua
Portuguese European variant with reflexive pronoun positioning

Related Words

backwardretreatreverserecederegressstep back

Related Idioms & Phrases

moves backwards and forwards (back and forth)
moves backwards in time (nostalgic or reflective)
two steps forward, one step backwards (making slow progress)
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