die back
Of plants, to die in a manner that retreats inward, leaving only the stems or roots. My plants died back after that period of unseasonably cold weather. Last time I tried planting things outside, they died back on me. I stick to fake plants now. A: "Hey, what is this? Where did my plant go?" B: "Looks like it died back on you. See, there's the roots."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
die back
[for vegetation] to die back to the stems or roots. The hedge died back in the winter but regenerated leaves in the spring. This kind of grass dies back every year.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
die back
v. To be affected by the gradual dying of plant shoots, starting at the tips and working back, as a result of weather conditions, natural growth cycle, or disease: Aerate the soil weekly when the flowers bloom and until they die back.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.