step back

prendre du recul

Faire une pause dans une activité pour réfléchir clairement à l'ensemble de la situation.

En anglais simple : To pause an activity so you can think clearly about the whole situation.

• Let us step back and think.
• She stepped back to consider all the options.
• Could you step back and look at the whole problem?

Comment l'utiliser : step back from something (We should step back from the details and examine our goals.)

Synonymes : pause, reassess

Expressions courantes : step back and think, step back from something

reculer

Faire un ou plusieurs pas pour s'éloigner de quelque chose ou aller vers l'arrière.

En anglais simple : To move one or more steps away from something or towards a place behind you.

• Please step back a little.
• She stepped back to let him pass.
• Everyone stepped back when the glass broke.

Comment l'utiliser : step back from something (Please step back from the edge.)

Synonymes : move back, step backwards

Contraires : step forward

Expressions courantes : step back slowly, step back from something

se mettre en retrait

Réduire son activité ou confier certaines de ses responsabilités à d'autres.

En anglais simple : To do less of your work or give some responsibilities to others.

• He is stepping back from his role.
• She stepped back and let her assistant lead.
• Will the founder step back from running the company?

Comment l'utiliser : step back from something (She plans to step back from her management duties.)

Synonymes : take a back seat, withdraw

Expressions courantes : step back from something, step back as manager

prendre du recul, se détacher

Garder une certaine distance affective par rapport à des personnes ou à une situation.

En anglais simple : To keep some emotional distance from people or a situation.

• I need to step back emotionally.
• The therapist stepped back from her clients’ problems.
• He stepped back from the argument before becoming too upset.

Comment l'utiliser : step back from someone/something (She stepped back from the family dispute to protect her peace of mind.)

Synonymes : detach oneself, distance oneself

Expressions courantes : step back emotionally, step back from someone

revenir sur sa position

Cesser discrètement de soutenir une idée ou une position qu'on défendait auparavant.

En anglais simple : To quietly stop supporting a belief or position you previously held.

• She stepped back from that belief.
• The party has stepped back from its harsh position.
• He quietly stepped back from his earlier claims.

Comment l'utiliser : step back from something (The minister stepped back from his earlier position.)

Synonymes : back away, retreat

Expressions courantes : step back from something, step back from claims

repartir avec le train suivant

Pour un conducteur, repartir avec le train suivant plutôt qu'avec celui qu'il vient d'amener.

En anglais simple : For a train driver, to drive the following train out instead of the one they brought in.

• Drivers step back at the terminus.
• She stepped back and drove the following train.
• The timetable requires drivers to step back during busy hours.

Expressions courantes : step back at terminus, step back between trains

recul, régression

Un changement qui aggrave la situation ou fait perdre une partie des progrès réalisés.

En anglais simple : A change that makes a situation worse or reduces progress.

• This change is a step back.
• Losing the funding was a step back for us.
• Would fewer safety checks be a step back?

Comment l'utiliser : a step back for someone/something (The cuts are a step back for public education.)

Synonymes : setback, regression

Contraires : advance

Expressions courantes : a step back, another step back

retour en arrière

Un retour à un état précédent ou à une ancienne manière de faire.

En anglais simple : A return to an earlier condition or way of doing things.

• This is a step back to our old routine.
• The village feels like a step back in time.
• Returning to paper records was a step back to earlier methods.

Comment l'utiliser : a step back to something (The festival is a step back to simpler times.)

Synonymes : return, reversion

Expressions courantes : a step back, a step back historically