走回头路

走回头路:

Literally means:

retrace one's steps; go back to the original state

Actually means:

It literally means going back.

It figuratively means when something is on the way to a positive prospect, it is drawn back to the original unsatisfactory state. It implies that something is retrogressing. Derogatory.

往回走。

比喻把可能或正在向好的方向发展的事情，拖回到原来不好的状态。意味着倒退或退步。具有贬义色彩。