back away


Walk backward, as in He cautiously backed away from the fire.

Words Nearby back away

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

How to use back away in a sentence

  • We went winding in and out amongst the trees, and sometimes the vines hung so thick we had to back away and go some other way.

    Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete | Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
  • Several tried to back away, and Hans pitched over Tom and both went in a heap.

    The Rover Boys on the Farm | Arthur M. Winfield (AKA Edward Stratemeyer)
  • He hugged the wall and moved back away from the spot where the watcher would be expecting him.

    Unwise Child | Gordon Randall Garrett
  • Well, Uncle Wiggily started to jump back away from the door of the little house, but it was too late.

    Uncle Wiggily's Adventures | Howard R. Garis
  • The hours flew until the tug signaled that she must cast loose and back away from the reef.

    The Pillar of Light | Louis Tracy