# drive back

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/drive-back
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To force someone or something to retreat or move away; repel.

## Examples

- The soldiers used shields to drive back the enemy.
- The police used water cannons to drive back the crowd after the protest turned violent.
- Despite their exhaustion, the defenders managed to drive back the invading forces and secure the city gates before dawn.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.