pull back

Verb

• make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
  • We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him
    
  • He backed out of his earlier promise
    
  • The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns
    

• stretch back a bowstring (on an archer's bow)
  • The archers were drawing their bows
    

• move to a rearward position; pull towards the back
  • Pull back your arms!
    

• use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)

• pull back or move away or backward
  • The enemy withdrew
    
  • The limo pulled away from the curb
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  retreat , back out , back away , crawfish , crawfish out , pull in one's horns , withdraw , draw , retract , draw back , pull away , recede , retire , move back
• Antonyms: 
  advance , progress , pass on , move on , march on , go on