The antonyms for "bellying to" are "withdrawing", "retracting", "retiring", "receding", "pulling back", and "folding". The term "bellying to" means advancing forward with force and momentum, an action in the opposite direction would be to retreat or withdraw. In some circumstances, withdrawing can be a wise move. However, in other situations, it may signal weakness or surrender, which is why it is important to weigh the context and consequences of whether to advance or retreat, and to use the appropriate antonyms for "bellying to" accordingly. It is also essential to note that both advancing and retreating rightly have their time and place, and one is not inherently better than the other.