TO TAKE THE BACKTRACK, verb. phr. (American).—To retreat; TO BACK OUT (q.v.).
1857. New York Herald, 26 Dec. The first law of preservation has admonished Mr. Douglas that he has gone as far in his slavery concessions to the South as he can possibly go, and that if he would save himself at home he must take the BACK TRACK.
1887. MORLEY ROBERTS, The Western Avernus. ‘Come, Mac, what’s the use of fooling; come with me.’ ‘No BACKTRACKS, Texas, I’ll stay here.’
