Back Peddling?

[Jeff K]

When did the phrase "back Paddling" turn in to "back peddling"? 
They aren't even close.

[..]

Back peddling as in reverse the pedals on a bike so as to slow down or stop. A futile exercise cause most bikes will just free wheel.

[Jeff K]

If a person "back-paddles" they are going back on something they said, changing their mind. So when you are "back-peddling" you would be doing nothing?

[gregc]

  If it is being used by one of our politicians, back peddling would be right, they shouldn't ride anything but tricycles, or they might hurt themselves. And you can back pedal on a tricycle.

[Jeff K]

  If it is being used by one of our politicians, back peddling would be right, they shouldn't ride anything but tricycles, or they might hurt themselves. And you can back pedal on a tricycle.

Are you sure? I figure they are up shite creek, so they should be back paddling.

[Big IV]

they're trying to go backwards in each case, rather futile effort in both cases generally.
I'd say the idioms are very similar in purposeful usage.
As to when did it change? I would propose that it hasn't really.
Both seem to be Americanized sayings. I think the difference is more regional than time order.
But that is just my 2 cents worth.

[X Ring]

Down here, back paddling is known as crawfishing.   

[PAVALKER]

Hmmmm, when I first read the subject I initially thought this would have been a political post about Nancy Pelosi or something.   


I believe people use the terms "Back Peddling", "Back Paddling" and "Back Stepping" as one in the same....., reversing their views or  moving away or back away from their original position.   Obviously, Back Driving or Back Flying doesn't sound good, so they were not used.    And as some have noted, it is most applicable and widely observed within the political arena.

[Tundra]

My interpertation was the "back paddler" was trying to go back, or back out of something they had said. Back out of a dangerous situation. Same as a canoe, backpaddling to avoid rocks, or a drop.

[Blackduck KS]

When I was little my DAD use to use this term very profondly,
 to describe someone who was not good for there word ,such as someone
who was going to sell something or made a promise to do something then
back peddled to get out of it or the other term that came after that was shizziester.
And yes they still exsist today .  Just talk to one of our goverment Rep 

[Willow]

Although we quickly attach the term "back pedal" to bicycling, I don't think that's where it came from.  Pedaling backwards on a bicycle either accomplishes nothing or simply stops forward motion, depending upon the bike.

If the term is old enough, I suppose it could have referred to bicycling when the pedals were directly attached to the wheel.

The word pedal actually means of or like the foot. 

I think the boxing term is more likely where back pedaling made its way into common usage.  A boxer who is back pedaling is usually trying to retreat from an undesirable position.  He is, in that situation, moving his feet in a backward direction, although possibly reminiscent of a motion made on a bicycle.

I've not heard anyone use the phrase back paddling other than in a canoeing application.  That may be simply a matter of my and someone else's geographical history.

I have paddled several backsides.    Would that be back paddling?   

[Ted_N]

Actually, you can back-pedal on a fixed gear or track bike.  No free wheeling function there.  Fixies are in fashion these days.  Check out the sandwich shop delivery folks around a college campus.  Having said that,  I'm inclined to agree with Willow that the term came from boxing.

[stormrider]

Having canoed for many years, back-paddling is often referred to as a back stroke. It is a very useful manuver in moving a canoe or kayak towards a more desirable direction, whether it be to avoid something, re-direct the boat into a better route, to surf a hydrolic, or to avoid going over the fall that has just appeared out of nowhere.  So, in this case, back-paddling is very useful and can be lifesaving.