What does "dar marcha atrás" mean?

To reverse the movement of a vehicle; to back up.

How is "dar marcha atrás" used in a sentence?

Se tienen que prometer en público, de manera que no puedan dar marcha atrás.

dar marcha atrás — meaning & examples

Language: es

Meanings:

1.
SpainLatin AmericaGeneralneutral
- To reverse the movement of a vehicle; to back up.
- To move or go backwards physically.
Examples
Beta
- Para salir del estacionamiento, primero tienes que dar marcha atrás con cuidado.
  To leave the parking lot, you first have to back up carefully.
- El conductor dio marcha atrás lentamente para evitar chocar con el poste.
  The driver reversed slowly to avoid hitting the pole.
- Cuando el espacio estaba muy justo, el autobús dio marcha atrás para intentarlo de nuevo.
  When the space was too tight, the bus backed up to try again.
- Siempre doy marcha atrás cuando veo que hay niños jugando cerca del camino.
  I always back up when I see children playing near the road.
2.
SpainLatin AmericaGeneralneutralformal
- To withdraw from a decision, promise, agreement, or position; to back down or renege.
- To undo or reverse a previous action or policy.
Examples
Beta
- El presidente dio marcha atrás en la decisión tras la presión social.
  The president backed down on the decision after social pressure.
- No puedo creer que hayan dado marcha atrás con el acuerdo después de tanto esfuerzo.
  I can’t believe they withdrew from the agreement after so much effort.
- Si das marcha atrás ahora, perderás la confianza de todo el equipo.
  If you back down now, you will lose the trust of the whole team.
3.
SpainLatin Americainformalcolloquial
- To change one's mind or turn back on a course of action, often after hesitation.
Examples
Beta
- Después de pensarlo bien, dio marcha atrás y no firmó el contrato.
  After thinking it over, he changed his mind and didn’t sign the contract.
- No creo que debamos dar marcha atrás ahora que el proyecto está avanzando tan bien.
  I don’t think we should turn back now that the project is progressing so well.
- Si das marcha atrás, ¿qué explicación le darás al equipo?
  If you change your mind, what explanation will you give to the team?

Examples:

ES: Se tienen que prometer en público, de manera que no puedan dar marcha atrás.
EN: We'll arrange the engagement in public, in a way they won't be able to pull out of it.
ES: Si quieres dar marcha atrás no te lo reprocharé.
EN: If you want to draw back you needn't ever reproach yourself.
ES: ¿Quieres dar marcha atrás?
EN: Do you want to back down?
ES: ¡Mira antes de dar marcha atrás!
EN: Look where you're going when you reverse!
ES: - Tendríamos que dar marcha atrás.
EN: - We'd have to turn back.
ES: No podríamos dar marcha atrás aunque quisiéramos.
EN: Couldn't turn back now even if we wanted to.
ES: No debimos dar marcha atrás sin aviso.
EN: We shouldn't have backed out without warning you.
ES: Imposible dar marcha atrás.
EN: Now we can't go back.
ES: Siempre adelante, sin dar marcha atrás Hasta que el descerebrado carnicero aprenda Que su guerra no está ganada hasta la última batalla.
EN: Ever onward, never returning... the senseless butcher will be learning... this war isn't won until the last battle is done.
ES: Siempre adelante, sin dar marcha atrás... Hasta que el descerebrado carnicero aprenda Que su guerra no está ganada hasta la última batalla.
EN: Ever onward, never returning... until the filthy butcher will be learning... this war isn't won until the last battle is done.
ES: ¿Está bien dar marcha atrás al reloj?
EN: What's the good of turning the clock back anyway?
ES: Tiene que ser que siempre se pueda dar marcha atrás.
EN: But we have to be able to change our minds.
ES: Tengo motivos para dar marcha atrás.
EN: I have good reasons for backing out.
ES: Y tal vez se esté diciendo que todo acabó, que no volverán nunca, que ya no podrá dar marcha atrás ni deshacer lo que hizo.
EN: And he must be telling himself, that it's all over now. He can't recreate them, and he can't go back and undo what he has done.
ES: No le des mucha importancia. Ahora es igual de peligroso dar marcha atrás que seguir adelante.
EN: Think nothing of it because it's as dangerous to go back now ..
ES: Iba a dar marcha atrás, pero de repente se levantó y escapó.
EN: I was going to back the car, but before I could, he was up and away down the street.
ES: - Solo a modo de conversación, esa esposa mía en Las Vegas, la que intentó dar marcha atrás y quería que le devolviera el dinero, me arreglé con ella, pero no por dinero.
EN: - Just by way of making conversation, that wife of mine in Las Vegas, the one who tried to back out on me and wanted the cash settlement back, I settled with her, but not for cash.
ES: Pero no puedes dar marcha atrás.
EN: But you can't turn back now.
ES: Me convencerías de dar marcha atrás.
EN: You would talk me into turning back, you would.
ES: No puede dar marcha atrás en esto ahora.
EN: You can't back down out of this now.

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Sourced from Wiktionary

dar marcha atrás — meaning & examples

Language: es

Meanings:

1.

Examples

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Related Idioms