Pronunciation: /fɔl bæk/
noun a retreat or withdrawal
A1 I always have a plan B as a fall back in case my first idea doesn't work.
A2 She kept some money as a fall back in case of emergencies.
B1 Having a fall back plan is essential when starting a new business.
B2 The company had to fall back on their reserves to cover unexpected expenses.
C1 In times of crisis, it is important to have a fall back strategy in place.
C2 The government had to fall back on diplomatic negotiations to resolve the conflict.
verb to move back or retreat in the face of danger or difficulty
A1 When I don't know the answer, I fall back on Google for help.
A2 If the plan fails, we can fall back on our original idea.
B1 In case of emergency, we have a fallback plan in place.
B2 When negotiations reached a deadlock, both parties had to fall back and reconsider their positions.
C1 The company had to fall back on its reserves to cover unexpected expenses.
C2 Despite facing numerous setbacks, she refused to fall back and continued to pursue her goals.
formal In case of failure, we have a contingency plan to fall back on.
informal If all else fails, we can always fall back on our original idea.
slang When things get tough, sometimes you just have to fall back and regroup.
figurative When faced with a difficult decision, I tend to fall back on my instincts.
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