step back

Definitions

1. 1

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see step, back.

   • Engineers from the Tyne & Wear Metro stepped back in time in December, to conduct a safety-critical inspection of the tramway at the open-air Beamish Museum in County Durham.
2. 2

   To stop what one is doing and evaluate the current situation.

   • Perhaps we should step back for a second and think about solving this problem a different way.
   • Making the announcement at 1600 on Friday November 4, the RDG [...] said in a statement: "It is positive that the RMT leadership has stepped back from the brink and called off their strike action.
3. 3

   To prevent oneself from becoming emotionally involved in a certain situation.

   • As a therapist sometimes you have to step back from your clients' lives.
4. ›+ 5 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      to depart driving the train following the train they arrived into the station driving, so…

      to depart driving the train following the train they arrived into the station driving, so as to decrease service turnaround time.

   2. 5

      To retreat from one's duties in a job

      To retreat from one's duties in a job; to reduce one's duties, often as a prelude to leaving a position; to take a back seat.

      • He's stepping back from the role to let you start in it.
   3. 6

      To quietly abandon a belief.

      • You need to step back from the threat you made.
   4. 7

      A setback, downgrade, or deterioration.

      • Switching to more frequent meetings was a step back for that team, which had too many meetings already.
   5. 8

      A reversion to a former state or situation.

The neighborhood