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fall back on

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fall back on(to) someone or something

 

1. . Lit. to fallback-wards onto someone or something. She stumbled and fell back onto the lady behind her. She fell back on the couch.

2. Fig. to begin to use someone or something held in reserve. We fell back on our savings to get us through the hardtimes. We had to fall back on our emergency generator.

See also: back, fall, on

fall back on (something)

to depend on something after a loss or failure The family has no savings to fall back on. I fell back on skills I had learned years ago when I had to earn a living for myself.

See also: back, fall, on

fall back on

Also, fall back upon. Rely on, have recourse to, as in I fall back on old friends in time of need, or When he lost his job he had to fall back upon his savings. [Mid-1800s]

See also: back, fall, on