to renege on
17
7.2
- phrasal verb
- /rɪˈnɛɡ ɑn/
- They were disappointed when he reneged on the deal he had promised to honor.
- renege on a promise
- renege on a commitment
- renege on an agreement
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Watch on YouTubeIn the complaint, Twitter dismissed Musk's fake accounts claim, describing Musk's reason for reneging on the deal as a model of hypocrisy.
- In the complaint, Twitter dismissed Musk's fake accounts claim, describing Musk's reason for reneging on the deal as a model of hypocrisy.
- And I've heard so many horror stories of just horrible treatment on the part of VCs, like reneging on deals.
- He had another long term contract teaching opportunity that you know, that, that, that that school reneged on that contract.
Examples
-
I hate people who renege on deals.
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You're reneging on a deal.
-
Yeah, and then she reneged on her promise.
-
Are you reneging on your promise, Pop?
-
Did he renege on the deal?
-
Then you renege on your part.
-
Most days, she tried to renege on the decision.
Fiction book (1994) -
I do not renege on a bargain once struck.
-
Five years later, the Obama administration has reneged on these commitments.
Academic text (2009) -
You wouldn't be thinking about reneging on our promised interview, would you?
Synonyms
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
41
4.1
Break a promise or agreement
41
6.0
To take back a statement or opinion in public
25
8.5
To break a promise or agreement and not do what you said you would do
15
4.5
To break a rule, agreement, or promise
12
2.6
To fail to do what you said you would do
4
3.7
To stop taking part in an agreement you already agreed to
1
5.0
To not keep a serious promise you made, often in a formal situation
1
8.4
To officially take back a promise or plan
1
9.9
To withdraw from a promise or agreement, often officially under pressure
1
9.4
Fail to do something you promised, often by not paying what you owe
1
7.1
Take back a promise or support you gave
Antonyms
How Trustworthy
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the verb 'renege' (to fail to keep a commitment) with the preposition 'on' marking the thing promised; the phrase simply expresses not fulfilling an agreement. This is a regular verb+preposition combinaton and therefore predictable for a learner who already knows the constituent meanings (noting that 'renege' itself is relatively formal/less frequent).
Etymology
Renege on may come from old card games: if a player failed to play a card of the same suit when they should, they were said to renege, like going back on the game's rule. That's why renege on now means 'not keep a promise' or 'break an agreement'.