Phrasal verb
draw back
Definition
phrasal verb. to move away from someone or something, often because you are surprised or afraid.
phrasal verb. to retreat or move backwards from a position; frequently used to describe a physical reaction to a stimulus or a metaphorical withdrawal from a commitment.
Examples
“She drew back in surprise when the cat jumped out.”
“The investors decided to draw back from the deal once they saw the company's true debt levels.”
“As the crowd surged forward against the barriers, the security guards were forced to draw back to avoid being crushed.”
Examples
simple
“She drew back in surprise when the cat jumped out.”
contextual
“The investors decided to draw back from the deal once they saw the company's true debt levels.”
complex
“As the crowd surged forward against the barriers, the security guards were forced to draw back to avoid being crushed.”
Usage
often followed by the preposition 'from' when indicating the source of the withdrawal.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'withdraw' for formal contexts; 'draw back' is more visual and physical, making it common in narrative writing.
Pitfall
He drew back himself from the fire.
He drew back from the fire.
this phrasal verb is intransitive in this sense and does not require a reflexive pronoun like 'himself'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
back
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
draw + back
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/draw-back