shrink back
retract

Pat shrank back a little as Sean suddenly came to his feet.

He shrank back with raised arm in front of his face.

Perhaps fortunately, she declined his offer, shrinking back a little toward the wall, though her eyes stayed on him.

She opened her eyes, and shrank back with a little scream of terror.

I watched them, and shrank back a little farther into my car.

The hero had just enough self-command not to shrink back with fear.

He looked once more at Merriman and shrank back a little.

But at the same time he appeared to shrink back a little within the group.

But with the new polls, the White House seemed to shrink back a bit.

The crowd stared at the Senator, who shrank back before their gaze.