tan3 taai5褪軚

Jyutpingtan3 taai5

Yaletan táaih

動詞

Definition

To back off, shrink back, or withdraw from one's position or commitment.

colloquialtransportdaily actions

How it's used

Originating from the automotive term for reversing a vehicle, this expression carries a strong sense of cowardice or lack of commitment. It is almost exclusively used to criticize someone for abandoning a plan or argument when pressure mounts. Using it implies that the person is unreliable or lacks the courage to follow through on their word.

Examples

gong2講hou2好zo2咗heoi3去leoi5旅hang4行，nei5你m4唔hou2好lam4臨mei1尾tan3褪taai5軚aa4呀。

We agreed to go on the trip, don't you dare back out at the last minute.

keoi5佢gin3見dou2到go3個haak3客gam3咁wu3惡，zik1即hak1刻tan3褪taai5軚m4唔gam2敢zoi3再gong2講。

Seeing how aggressive the client was, he immediately backed down and didn't dare say anything else.

Common phrases

lam4臨mei1尾tan3褪taai5軚

to back out at the very last moment

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe the literal act of driving a car in reverse, as it is strictly metaphorical in modern usage. For the literal action of reversing a vehicle, use 倒車 instead.