What does recul in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word recul in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use recul in French.

The word recul in French means moving back, recoil, space, distance, drop, fall, pushing back, step back, recoil, in hindsight, with hindsight, retrospectively, with hindsight, looking back, have the benefit of hindsight, recoil, reverse light, reversing light, be incapable of objectivity, wince, flinch, cringe, take a step back, step back, take a step back. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word recul

moving back

nom masculin (déplacement en arrière)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Nous avons procédé au recul du meuble.
We went ahead with moving back the piece of furniture.

recoil

nom masculin (mouvement en arrière)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Quand je me suis approché, l'animal a eu un mouvement de recul.
When I drew near, the animal flinched in recoil.

space, distance

nom masculin (espace en arrière)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il n'y a pas assez de recul sur ce court de tennis. Je n'ai pas assez de recul pour bien voir cet immense tableau.
There isn't enough space on this tennis court. I can't get enough distance to see this huge painting properly.

drop, fall

nom masculin (baisse)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il semble y avoir un recul des naissances dans cette région.
There seems to be a drop in the birth rate in this region.

pushing back

nom masculin (report à plus tard)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ils manifestent contre le recul de l'âge de la retraite.
They are protesting against the pushing back of the retirement age.

step back

nom masculin (figuré (distance, retrait) (procedure, figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut prendre un peu de recul pour bien analyser une situation.
Proper analysis of a situation requires taking a step back.

recoil

nom masculin (d'une arme)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut se méfier du recul de cette arme après avoir tiré.
You have to be careful of the recoil on this gun after you shoot.

in hindsight, with hindsight

locution adverbiale (en relativisant)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

retrospectively, with hindsight, looking back

locution adverbiale (après réflexion)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Looking back, I was wrong to quit my job.

have the benefit of hindsight

locution verbale (avoir eu le temps d'analyser)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Nous n'avons pas encore assez de recul pour dire si cette mesure fut une bonne chose ou non.
We do not yet have the benefit of hindsight to say whether this was the right course of action or not.

recoil

locution verbale (reculer un peu instinctivement)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

reverse light, reversing light

nom masculin (véhicule : lumière de marche arrière) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

be incapable of objectivity

locution verbale (figuré (être trop impliqué)

wince, flinch, cringe

nom masculin (recul instinctif du corps)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

take a step back

locution verbale (figuré (relativiser) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pour progresser, il faut savoir prendre du recul.

step back

locution verbale (figuré (diminuer son influence, laisser place) (figurative)

Après cette défaite, l’entraîneur prit du recul.

take a step back

locution verbale (reculer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Prends du recul sinon tu n'auras pas tout le monde sur la photo.

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