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zurückweichen

to retreat, to give ground, to step back

verb tsoo-RUEK-vy-khen Rare
Travel & Places Movement

Usage Note

zurückweichen describes controlled backward movement away from something — a crowd parting, a soldier retreating, or a person stepping back in surprise. Unlike fliehen (to flee), it does not necessarily imply panic; vor niemandem zurückweichen (to give ground to no one) is a figurative idiom.

Examples

"Die Menge wich vor dem anrückenden Wagen zurück."

Natural Translation

The crowd retreated before the approaching vehicle.

Literal Translation

The crowd retreated before the approaching vehicle back.

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