beg off

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to ask to be released from an engagement, obligation, etc

Idioms and Phrases

Ask to be released from an obligation; turn down an invitation. For example, He's asked me out to dinner three times already, but I have to beg off again, or Mother couldn't take on another committee and so she begged off. [Early 1700s]

Related Words

• abandon 
• admit 
• back off 
• back out 
• backtrack 
• balk 
• cancel 
• cave in 
• concede 
• give in 
• give up 
• pull back 
• pull out 
• renege 
• retreat 
• surrender 
• take back 
• withdraw