fall back

(noun) to break off a military action with an enemy. Synonyms: disengagement, fallback, pullout.

(verb) fall backwards and down. Synonyms: fall back.

(verb) hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.. Synonyms: lag, dawdle, fall back, fall behind.

(verb) move back and away from. Synonyms: fall back. Example: "The enemy fell back."

(verb) retreat. Synonyms: fall back, lose, drop off, fall behind, recede.

(verb) have recourse to. Synonyms: fall back, resort, recur. Example: "The government resorted to rationing meat."

(verb) go back to bad behavior. Synonyms: relapse, lapse, recidivate, regress, retrogress, fall back. Example: "Those who recidivate are often minor criminals."