fall back

Verb

• go back to bad behavior
  • Those who recidivate are often minor criminals
    

• have recourse to
  • The government resorted to rationing meat
    

• retreat

• move back and away from
  • The enemy fell back
    

• hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.

• fall backwards and down

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  relapse , lapse , recidivate , regress , retrogress , resort , recur , lose , drop off , fall behind , recede , lag , dawdle
• Antonyms: 
  gain , advance , win , pull ahead , make headway , get ahead , gain ground