The idiom "backing and filling" is used to describe someone who is indecisive or uncertain about what to do. It means to move forward and then backward, or to change one's mind frequently.
The phrase comes from sailing, where "backing" means to turn the sail so that the wind hits it from the opposite direction, causing the boat to move backward, and "filling" means to turn the sail back to its original position so that the wind fills it again and the boat moves forward.
In everyday language, "backing and filling" is used to describe someone who is hesitant or unsure about making a decision. For example, if someone is asked to choose between two options but keeps changing their mind, you could say that they are "backing and filling."
Overall, this idiom is used to describe someone who is indecisive and keeps changing their mind.
• The negotiator was able to succeed in reaching an agreement by backing and filling during the discussions.
• I am not good at backing and filling my bicycle, so I always ask my brother to help me.
• The CEO spent the entire day backing and filling with the company board to convince them to approve the new budget.
• The politician spent most of his speech backing and filling his previous statements, trying to avoid any controversy.
• The expert sailor was able to navigate through the storm by backing and filling the sails, adjusting them to the changing winds.
• The team had to do a lot of backing and filling before they could agree on the final design for the project.