back off

verb

1. (intr) to retreat

2. (tr) to abandon (an intention, objective, etc)

Idioms and Phrases

See back down , def. 2.

Relent, abandon one's stand. For example, The chairman wanted to sell one division but later backed off . [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

But the state has since backed off after lawsuits alleged that authorities didn’t follow due process.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Two minutes in, she was given a sharp reminder of where she was when Jennifer Echegini's powerful effort bounced back off the inside of her left post.

Read more on BBC

For her second, Kerr dropped back off the defensive line into space, adjusted to meet the flight of Niamh Charles' cross and planted a header high into the net.

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He’s backing off the goal of preserving as much wild habitat as possible.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And every now and then, I might find a little bop, a little sundress, a little something to throw on, drop the things back off and then head down into the city.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon 
• back down 
• balk 
• give up 
• surrender 
• withdraw