backslide

/'bæk'slaid/

Thân thiện

He promised to quit, but he's starting to backslide.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To revert to a worse condition, especially in terms of behavior, morals, or standards: To fall back into previous, often less desirable, habits or practices after a period of improvement or progress.

Usage

• The verb "backslide" is typically used to describe a person's regression in personal conduct, discipline, or moral principles.
• It is often used in contexts related to addiction recovery, religious faith, personal resolutions, or professional standards.
• It is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. You cannot "backslide something"; you simply "backslide."

Examples

• Verb:
  • After six months of sobriety, he feared he might backslide and start drinking again.
  • Her commitment to the diet was strong, but she backslid during the holidays.
  • The company's safety standards have improved, but we must be vigilant to prevent any backsliding.

Advanced Usage

• "to backslide into (something)": To revert to a specific previous state or habit.
  • Without constant practice, it's easy to backslide into old, inefficient work habits.
• Gerund/Noun form "backsliding": The act or instance of reverting.
  • Any backsliding in our environmental policies would be a disaster.

Variants and Related Words

• Backslider (n): A person who backslides.
  • The preacher spoke about forgiveness for backsliders.
• Backsliding (n): The process or an instance of backsliding.
  • The report noted a worrying backsliding in democratic norms.

Synonyms

• Relapse: To fall back into a previous state, especially of illness or bad habit.
• Regress: To return to a former or less developed state.
• Revert: To return to a previous state, practice, or belief.
• Lapse: To fall into a previous, often inferior, state or habit.

Antonyms

• Progress: To move forward or toward a better state.
• Advance: To move forward in a purposeful way.
• Improve: To make or become better.
• Persevere: To continue in a course of action despite difficulty.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Fall off the wagon": An idiom specifically meaning to start drinking alcohol again after a period of abstinence; a common example of backsliding.
  • He was doing so well, but I heard he fell off the wagon last week.

Học thuật

Verb

1. drop to a lower level, as in one's morals or standards

Từ đồng nghĩa

• lapse