to back off
443
2.8
- phrasal verb
- /bæk ɔf/
- Informal
- Like just just back off for like a month, bro.
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Watch on YouTubeAnd when you get to that point, back, back off, back off.
- And when you get to that point, back, back off, back off.
- Can you imagine a scenario where we can actually back off of this brink?
- But I'd hope they're not telling the Ukrainians back off so that Russia stops doing this.
- I think because my approach was don't back off, it'll show him that I'm afraid.
- And if it starts to happen, just back off on your lifting.
- Many people know what to do, but when the moment comes, they back off and they'll doubt themselves.
- And later in his life, he kind of backed off that.
- Well, when the whistle blew, they they backed off.
- And it if push comes to shove, they can back off of some of that to stimulate growth.
- Then the media should have backed off because there was nothing criminal against Johnny.
Examples
-
There are many students who back off because they fail to overcome the obstacles present.
Academic text (2014) -
If someone is making you uncomfortable, it's important to tell them to back off.
-
Also, how can I get everyone to back off on the whole having kids business?
-
Tell your people to back off.
-
And if it starts to happen, just back off on your lifting.
-
All right, I'm going to try to back off the tension a little bit.
-
So why don't we just back off a second?
-
Maybe I should back off and leave this to people who know what they're doing.
Fiction book (1991) -
Everybody, back off!
-
Back off!
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To go away from a place, person, or group
970
1.6
To leave a vehicle, for example a bus, or stop annoying someone
876
3.5
Leave a person, place, or situation without taking part anymore
711
1.6
Keep a distance from people or things you want to avoid
477
2.7
Move backwards to make space or avoid something
320
3.4
To move yourself and things backward from a place, person, or situation
311
2.8
To stop taking part in a place or activity
228
3.4
To stop being involved in an activity or agreement
225
4.0
To move back from a place or plan to avoid danger
153
3.5
To move away from people or a place to create space
151
3.2
Leave an activity or agreement you had joined
146
3.7
To stop insisting because others oppose you
143
5.1
To stop doing a job, duty or action after someone tells you to
128
3.2
To stop something suddenly before it is finished, for example a talk or relationship
118
3.4
Stop doing something that annoys someone
112
3.4
Decide not to do something you promised to do
111
3.9
Stop supporting or taking part in a plan because you feel unsure
93
4.1
Stop doing something for a short time, for example at a point in a book
66
3.2
To stop other people from getting close to you emotionally
65
3.7
To refuse to have anything to do with someone or something
32
4.9
Leave a person because they are angry with you
30
8.6
To leave someone alone when you bother them
29
4.4
To move back from a place or activity to avoid danger and trouble
27
8.9
To stop getting involved in other people's business
26
2.0
To stop someone from going forward or entering
24
4.9
To stop doing a job or role politely
22
6.3
To stop bothering someone so they can work or think
17
7.7
Leave a place quickly, often in a rude way
17
6.8
Leave a place or start a journey
15
7.0
To end a connection with a person, group, or idea
10
4.1
To leave a group and move away in a different direction
9
4.3
To stop giving help and approval to a person or group
9
4.0
To move back from a place or position, often to a safer spot
5
6.7
To stop being involved with a person, group, or idea
4
4.7
Move away because you are afraid or disgusted
1
7.0
Keep away from someone or something to show no connection
1
5.1
Choose not to be involved with someone or something anymore
1
7.1
Take back a promise or support you gave
Not to touch or interfere with something that belongs to someone else
Antonyms
How Far
311
2.8
80
4.4
876
3.5
- Informal
443
2.8
93
3.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The core sense 'to move away' is directly and compositionally derived from 'back' (move backward) + 'off' (away), following a simple motion + particle pattern. The figurative sense 'to stop being involved' is a transparent spatial-to-social extension common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents is likely to infer both meanings.
Etymology
Back off comes from the simple image of stepping backwards: to back is to move back and off shows leaving a place. So to back off is to literally move away and, by extension, to 'stop being involved' or to 'give someone space'.