fall back
verb- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see fall, back.
- To retreat.
- To fail to fulfill a promise or purpose.
- To turn the clocks back for the end of daylight saving time.
From the library
At this moment Danglars, who had been incessantly observing every change in Fernand’s look and manner, saw him stagger and fall back, with an almost convulsive spasm, against a seat placed near one of the open windows.
There was a tiny fountain in the middle of the room, that shot a spray of green perfume into the air, to fall back into a beautifully carved green marble basin.
“We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
Learn fall back in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.