fall back position

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   An alternative plan or place to go to if the first one fails.

   Grammar: Countable: a fall-back position, two fall-back positions.

   Patterns

   • a fall-back position
   • as a fall-back position
   • have a fall-back position

   If the deal falls through, we have a fall-back position.

   The army established a fall-back position in case of retreat.

   Always have a fall-back position when negotiating.

2. 2nouncountable

   A place to retreat to for safety or defense.

   Grammar: Often used in military or strategic contexts.

   Patterns

   • retreat to a fall-back position
   • secure a fall-back position

   The troops retreated to their fall-back position.

   The bunker served as a fall-back position during the attack.

Word forms

Common combinations

have a fall-back position

Before you quit your job, make sure you have a fall-back position.

as a fall-back position

He kept his old apartment as a fall-back position.

establish a fall-back position

The general established a fall-back position behind the river.

fall-back position in case

We need a fall-back position in case the funding is cut.

Synonyms and how they differ

backup plan

Backup plan is more general and common in everyday speech; fall-back position often implies a physical place or a strategic option.

contingency

Contingency is a more formal word for a possible future event or plan; fall-back position is the specific alternative you use if things go wrong.

Commonly confused: fall back position or fallback?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fall back position”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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