fade back

fade back

1. In American football, for an offensive player to move backward before making a play while the rest of the offensive players move forward. The quarterback faded back before throwing the ball. No, you're supposed to fade back there, 22! Ugh, all right, we're running that play again! I know the quarterback is going to fade back on this play, but which one of us is he throwing to?

2. To recede. I started to cry as I watched my old house fade back in the rearview mirror. As our plane ascended into the air, the city skyline faded back rapidly. After splashing violently on the beach, the wave began to fade back.

See also: back, fade

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

fade back (into something)

to move back into a particular area. He faded back to throw a pass. Quickly and unnoticed, he faded back.

See also: back, fade

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

fade back

v.

1. In American football, to move away from the line of scrimmage, opposite to the direction of the overall offensive play, in order to gain time to make a forward pass: The quarterback faded back and looked downfield for an open receiver.

2. To move something backwards into some space: After she took the medicine, the rash faded back to just her finger.

See also: back, fade

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.