retreat **
pull back *
back out
back away *
crawfish
crawfish out
pull in one's horns
withdraw **

I explained a few facts of life to him, and he pulled in his horns a bit.

The Chinese community has pulled in its horns and with good reason.

"When the pricing moved away from us we pulled in our horns and spent the last 24 months learning the business," he said.

Global started to pull in its horns a little.

You can pull in your horns now, I guess.

"Clearly the economy slowed down and people pulled in their horns," he said.

And it's not only the small businesses who've had to pull in their horns.

The agitators had pulled in their horns of late, yet she'd known they'd be here today.

Without him around, she might pull in her horns.

If they learned anything from last time, they'll pull in their horns and wait it out.