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roll back

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roll back

[for something] to return, rotating or turning or moving on wheels. I rolled the ball away, thinking it would roll back. It didn't. I struck the golf ball out of the sand trap, but it rolled back.

See also: back, roll

roll something back

to return something to someone by rotating it, as with a wheel or a ball, or moving it back on wheels. I intercepted the ball and rolled it back. Jane rolled back the ball.

See also: back, roll

roll back something

also roll something back

to return something to a previous condition Her staff has pushed to roll back environmental protections. It's unusual for any company to roll their prices back.

Usage notes: often said about prices or laws

See also: back, roll

roll back

Decrease, cut back, or reduce, especially prices, as in Unless they roll back oil prices, this summer's tourist traffic will be half of last year's . [c. 1940]

See also: back, roll

roll back

v.

1. To reduce the power or influence of something: The government tried to roll back the growing student movement. When the union achieved a more powerful position, management tried to roll it back.

2. To reduce something, as a price or value, to a previous lower level: We had to roll back prices to compete with the discount stores. After the store owner raised prices on toasters, no one bought them, so she had to roll them back.

See also: back, roll