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Glite Dictionary
🦞 A small shellfish ↩️ To back out
to crawfish

to crawfish

1 9.9
To back out of a promise or agreement
  • verb
  • /ˈkrɔːˌfɪʃ/
  • Informal
translation icon : echarse atrás
  • She accused him of trying to crawfish from the agreed terms of their contract.

Examples

  • After he agreed to lead the project, he decided to crawfish and asked someone else to take over.

  • Don't crawfish, it was your idea.

    In Harm's Way (1965)

  • Don't crawfish on your promise to help us move this weekend.

Synonyms

to withdraw
vsto crawfish
466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

is specifically about backing out of a promise or obligation rather than general exit
to retreat
vsto crawfish
235 4.0

To move back from a place or plan to avoid danger

is informal and centers on breaking promises rather than avoiding danger
to pull back
vsto crawfish
162 3.4

To move yourself and things backward from a place, person, or situation

is more direct and complete withdrawal from a prior promise
to back down
vsto crawfish
107 3.7

To stop insisting because others oppose you

focuses on informal retreat from a promise rather than yielding under pressure
to back out
vsto crawfish
  • Informal
79 3.4

Decide not to do something you promised to do

is the informal US term for the same act of backing out
to back away
vsto crawfish
59 3.9

Stop supporting or taking part in a plan because you feel unsure

is about plainly withdrawing from a promise without only hesitation
to retract
vsto crawfish
  • Formal
41 6.0

To take back a statement or opinion in public

is less formal and focuses on backing out of promises rather than statements
to decommit
vsto crawfish
1 8.4

To officially take back a promise or plan

is informal and general rather than formal or official withdrawal
to row back on
vsto crawfish
  • UK
1 7.9

To change an earlier decision or statement because of pressure

is more colloquial and tied to backing out of promises
to crawfish out
vsto crawfish
  • Informal
9.7

To try to avoid doing something you promised or agreed to do

is the same meaning but without the added particle form
to backstep
vsto crawfish
7.1

Take back a promise or support you gave

is informal and emphasizes retreat from obligations rather than a literal step

Antonyms

to commit
706 3.4

To give time, money, or effort to something

to stand firm
22 3.7

Keep your decision or opinion when others try to make you change

Phrasal Verbs

to crawfish out
  • Informal
9.7

To try to avoid doing something you promised or agreed to do

Compounds

sea crawfish
  • US
4.8

A large sea animal with a spiny shell you can eat and no big claws

How Committed

to back off
  • Informal
356 2.8
to crawfish
  • Informal
1 9.9
to back out
  • Informal
79 3.4
to renege
25 8.5

Surface Forms

crawfish infinitive
crawfished past
crawfished past participle
crawfishing present participle
crawfishes third person singular

Etymology

Crawfish as a verb is a US informal word based on the animal's habit of moving backward, so a helpful way to remember it is to think of someone 'moving back' from a promise. That's why to crawfish means to 'back out' or withdraw from a commitment.