reverse gear

A mechanical term referring to the gear in a vehicle that allows it to move backward, or figuratively, to reverse a process or decision.

• 🇪🇸Término mecánico que designa la marcha de un vehículo que permite moverse hacia atrás o, en sentido figurado, revertir un proceso o una decisión.

1. Vehicle gear for backward movement A2 formal

   A gear in a vehicle's transmission that allows the vehicle to move backward.

   • He put the car into reverse gear to back out of the driveway.
   • Make sure the gear stick is in reverse gear before you start moving backward.
   • The truck's reverse gear was making a strange noise.

   🇪🇸marcha atrás

2. Figurative: going backward or regressing B2 informal

   A metaphorical use meaning to go back to a previous, often less advanced, state or situation.

   • After the failed experiment, the project was put into reverse gear.
   • The company's profits went into reverse gear after the scandal.
   • His career seemed to be stuck in reverse gear.

   🇪🇸Marcha atrás (figurado)