echar el pie atrás: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 2.

  SpainLatin AmericaneutralMachine
  • Literally, to move the foot backward; used in contexts describing physical retreat or a step taken backward.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Al sentir el peligro, el excursionista echó el pie atrás para evitar caer por el precipicio.

    Feeling the danger, the hiker moved his foot backward to avoid falling off the cliff.

  • Durante la clase de danza, nos pidieron que echáramos el pie atrás con cuidado para mantener el equilibrio.

    During the dance class, we were asked to move our foot backwards carefully to maintain balance.

  • Ella echó el pie atrás justo cuando el perro ladró, sorprendida por el ruido inesperado.

    She stepped back just as the dog barked, surprised by the unexpected noise.

  • No eches el pie atrás ahora; tenemos que avanzar para terminar la carrera.

    Don't move your foot back now; we have to move forward to finish the race.

• 1.

  SpainLatin AmericaneutralMachine
  • To withdraw from a commitment, agreement, or plan; to back out or reverse a decision.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Cuando firmamos el contrato, todos estaban seguros, pero luego Juan decidió echar el pie atrás y cancelar el acuerdo.

    When we signed the contract, everyone was sure, but then Juan decided to back out and cancel the agreement.

  • No puedo creer que María haya echado el pie atrás justo antes de comenzar el proyecto; eso nos complica mucho.

    I can't believe María backed out right before starting the project; that complicates things a lot for us.

  • Si hubiéramos sabido que ellos iban a echar el pie atrás, no habríamos invertido tanto dinero en la idea.

    If we had known they were going to back out, we wouldn't have invested so much money in the idea.