Definition

1. Verb:
   • To descend from a higher position, especially using one's hands and feet: The primary meaning is to move downwards from an elevated point, often with effort or caution, as in climbing down a ladder or a tree.
   • To retract or abandon a previously held position, opinion, or demand: To figuratively "descend" from a stance, often in the face of opposition or new evidence, implying a concession or admission of being wrong.

Usage and Examples

• Literal Meaning (To descend physically):

  • The firefighter had to climb down the ladder carefully with the child.
  • After reaching the summit, we will need to climb down the other side of the mountain.

• Figurative Meaning (To retract a position):

  • The company was forced to climb down over its plans to cut employee benefits.
  • After seeing the evidence, he had to climb down from his initial accusation.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "to climb down from (something)": This structure is common, especially in the figurative sense, to specify the position being abandoned.
  • The politician refused to climb down from his controversial statement.
• The phrasal verb often carries a tone of reluctance or necessity, rather than a voluntary change of heart.

Variants and Related Words

• Back down (phrasal verb): A close synonym for the figurative meaning, meaning to withdraw a claim or demand.
• Descend (verb): A more general term for moving to a lower level, but without the specific connotation of using hands and feet or retracting an opinion.
• Retreat (verb): To withdraw from a position, often from a conflict or argument.

Synonyms

• Literal: Descend, go down, shin down.
• Figurative: Back down, concede, yield, give in, retract.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Climb down is itself a phrasal verb. Its components are not typically separated in standard usage (e.g., you "climb down a tree," not "climb a tree down").

Related Idioms

• "To eat one's words": Similar to the figurative use of , it means to retract what one has said, often humiliatingly.
• "To backpedal": To reverse or retreat from a previous position or opinion.

Verb

1. come down
   • the birds alighted