pull in one's horns


pull in one's horns (http://definr.com/pull in one's horns)

     v : make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity;
         "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He
         backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive
         investment company pulled in its horns" [syn: retreat,
         pull back, back out, back away, crawfish, {crawfish
         out}, withdraw]