Verb
take a step back (third-person singular simple present takes a step back, present participle taking a step back, simple past took a step back, past participle taken a step back)
(figuratively) To withdraw temporarily from a situation in order to evaluate it; to cease one's course of action and take a moment to reflect on it; to try and gain some perspective.
Turn on the news and every conversation is a confrontation. Every disagreement is a crisis. But when you take a step back and look at what's happening, we're actually making real progress. Maybe it doesn't seem fast enough. Joe Biden
If you can't go one way, there's many ways to get where you're going. So you just take a step back and see beyond the wall. Cyndi Lauper
If you need to take a step back from day-to-day operations and plot out the long-term direction of your user experience strategy, consultants can give you a perspective you can't get on your own. Jesse James Garrett
He continues to smile expectantly. I take a step back. I don't want to catch whatever he has. He is a disturbing out-of-uniform Santa. Augusten Burroughs
I don't really take a step back too often to see what's going on. Gavin DeGraw
He who wants to do a good jump must sometimes take a step back. German Proverb