backslide

views updated May 14 2018

back·slide / ˈbakˌslīd/ • v. (past -slid; past part. -slid or -slid·den / -ˌslidn/ ) [intr.] relapse into bad ways or error: converted vegetarians backslide to T-bones | [as n.] (backsliding) there would be no backsliding from the administration's sound policies. DERIVATIVES: back·slid·er n.