Bedeutung
To change one's mind after promising.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In the 90s, 'пойти на попятную' could be dangerous in business. Today, it's seen as unprofessional but common in the 'gray' market. Classic authors like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy used this phrase to show the internal struggle and lack of will in their characters. On Russian Telegram channels, you'll often see this phrase used to mock celebrities or politicians who change their public stance. Russian parents often use this to teach children about responsibility: 'If you promised, don't back out!'
Use it for 'Cold Feet'
If someone is about to get married or start a big project and gets scared, this is the perfect phrase.
Don't change the gender
Even if you are talking about a woman or a group, it's always 'на попятную'. Never 'на попятного' or 'на попятные'.
Bedeutung
To change one's mind after promising.
Use it for 'Cold Feet'
If someone is about to get married or start a big project and gets scared, this is the perfect phrase.
Don't change the gender
Even if you are talking about a woman or a group, it's always 'на попятную'. Never 'на попятного' or 'на попятные'.
Combine with 'в последний момент'
It sounds very natural to say 'пойти на попятную в последний момент' (to back out at the last minute).
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Он сначала согласился на сделку, но в последний момент пошёл ___ ___.
The fixed form is 'на попятную'.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Выберите правильное предложение:
The phrase is an idiom meaning 'to back out', not a physical description of a road or side.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
— Ты поможешь мне с ремонтом? — Ой, я забыл, что у меня дела... — Эй! Не ___ ___ ___!
In a dialogue, 'не иди на попятную' is the standard way to tell someone not to back out.
Match the situation to the phrase.
В какой ситуации лучше всего использовать 'пойти на попятную'?
The phrase is used for backing out of commitments.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenОн сначала согласился на сделку, но в последний момент пошёл ___ ___.
The fixed form is 'на попятную'.
Выберите правильное предложение:
The phrase is an idiom meaning 'to back out', not a physical description of a road or side.
— Ты поможешь мне с ремонтом? — Ой, я забыл, что у меня дела... — Эй! Не ___ ___ ___!
In a dialogue, 'не иди на попятную' is the standard way to tell someone not to back out.
В какой ситуации лучше всего использовать 'пойти на попятную'?
The phrase is used for backing out of commitments.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt's not rude, but it is critical. You are accusing someone of being inconsistent or unreliable.
Yes, if the tone is slightly informal or if you are expressing frustration to a colleague. In a formal letter to a client, use 'пересмотреть условия'.
'Пойти' is for a specific event (He backed out yesterday). 'Идти' is for a habit (He always backs out).
Yes, it's an old form of the word for 'backward', but it's only used in this idiom today.
'Дать заднюю' is very slangy. Use it with friends. Use 'пойти на попятную' with your boss or in general conversation.
Technically, 'пойти на попятный' (masculine) exists in old books, but 99% of modern speakers say 'на попятную'.
Very often! Especially in headlines about countries withdrawing from treaties or companies stopping projects.
Я не пойду на попятную!
It's a feminine adjective meaning 'retrograde' or 'backward-moving'.
No, for war use 'отступать'. 'Пойти на попятную' is for decisions and promises.
Verwandte Redewendungen
дать заднюю
synonymTo back out (slang, from driving).
включить задний ход
similarTo reverse one's position.
забрать свои слова назад
similarTo take back one's words.
стоять на своём
contrastTo stand one's ground.
бить отбой
similarTo sound the retreat / cancel.
