By cutting expenditure on health care, I feel we are taking a backward step to the bad old days.
English dictionary. 2014.
step — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 in walking, running, etc. ADJECTIVE ▪ large, small ▪ heavy, light ▪ quick, slow ▪ hesitant … Collocations dictionary
backward — back|ward1 [ bækwərd ] adjective * 1. ) only before noun moving or looking in the direction that is behind you: a backward glance 2. ) not developing quickly, normally, and successfully: a remote and backward region a ) OLD FASHIONED an offensive … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
step — I n. placing the foot 1) to make, take a step (to take a step backward) 2) to retrace one s steps 3) a giant (usu. fig.); mincing step 4) (usu. fig.) step by step sequence of movements (dancing) 5) to execute, perform a step stride in marching… … Combinatory dictionary
step — 1 /step/ noun 1 MOVEMENT (C) the movement you make when you put one foot in front of the other when walking: With every step my bags seemed heavier. | take a step: Take two steps forward and one step back. | retrace your steps (=go back the way… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
backward — backward, backwards 1. For the adverb, both forms are in use, although backward is somewhat more common in AmE and backwards in BrE: • Talk ran backward from the events of the morning A. Munro, CanE 1987 • I walked backward to look at her in the… … Modern English usage
step — [n1] pace of feet in walking footfall, footprint, footstep, gait, impression, mark, print, spoor, stepping, stride, trace, track, trail, tread, vestige, walk; concept 149 step [n2] action, move act, advance, advancement, deed, degree, expedient,… … New thesaurus
step — [step] n. [ME steppe < OE stepe, akin to Ger stapf < IE base * steb(h) , post (> STAMP): basic sense “to stamp feet”] 1. the act of moving and placing the foot forward, backward, sideways, up, or down, as in walking, dancing, or climbing … English World dictionary
backward step — index decline Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
backward — [[t]bæ̱kwə(r)d[/t]] (In American English, backward is usually used as an adverb instead of backwards. Backward is also sometimes used in this way in formal British English. See backwards for these uses.) 1) ADJ: ADJ n A backward movement or look… … English dictionary
backward — 1. adjective 1) a backward look Syn: rearward, to/toward the rear, to/toward the back, behind one, reverse Ant: forward 2) the decision was a backward step Syn: retrograde, retrogressive … Thesaurus of popular words
