climbdown
climbdown — noun
1. a public moment when a person or group steps back from a strong stance and agree
a public moment when a person or group steps back from a strong stance and agrees they were wrong or must give way
The minister's sudden climbdown on the new tax surprised reporters at the morning briefing.
climbdown on [issue] for retreating from a public stance
After weeks of protest, the school board's climbdown over the uniform rule pleased many parents.
climbdown over [issue] following public pressure
Critics called the prime minister's apology a humiliating climbdown by the whole cabinet.
Liang said the company's climbdown on overtime pay came only after the union threatened a strike.
The mayor's quiet climbdown over the parking fees passed almost unnoticed in the local press.
- U-turn
more neutral; just a reversal of policy, not necessarily admitting error
- retreat
broader and more formal; can be military or strategic, not only public-stance
- concession
what you give up; 'climbdown' emphasises the act of stepping back itself
- backtracking
informal; ongoing process rather than a single named event
- standing firm
refusing to change a public position despite pressure
文法句型
a climbdown on/over [issue]
a climbdown by [person/group]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a politician, official, company, or organisation, not a private individual. Often paired with adjectives like 'humiliating', 'embarrassing', 'major', 'sudden', or 'quiet'.
常見錯誤
climbdown — verb
1. to give up a position in an argument or policy and agree, sometimes reluctantly,
to give up a position in an argument or policy and agree, sometimes reluctantly, that you cannot keep insisting on it
The council finally climbed down on the library closures after thousands signed Bilal's petition.
climb down on [issue] after public pressure
Élise refused to climb down from her demand for a written apology before returning to work.
climb down from [position] for retreating from a stated demand
Negotiators urged both sides to climb down a little so that the talks could move forward.
The airline climbed down over the new baggage charges within hours of the social-media backlash.
- back down
very close synonym; perhaps slightly more common in spoken English
- give in
broader; emphasises yielding to pressure, not specifically a public position
- yield
formal; suggests final surrender after resistance
- concede
focus is on admitting the other side is right, less on retreating from one's own stance
文法句型
climb down on/over [issue]
climb down from [position]
用法筆記
Usually written as two words 'climb down'; the one-word noun form 'climbdown' is more common in news headlines. Frequently subject is an institution, government, or company.