back off
Britishverb
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(intr) to retreat
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(tr) to abandon (an intention, objective, etc)
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See back down , def. 2.
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Relent, abandon one's stand. For example, The chairman wanted to sell one division but later backed off . [Mid-1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What’s happened since: The state’s primary utility, Duke Energy, has backed off from some plans to rely more on clean energy and retire coal-fired power plants.
From Salon
But our $37,000 offer was turned down and we backed off.
From Barron's
USC coach Lincoln Riley says Notre Dame backed off its vow to play the Trojans anywhere at any time, rejecting offers to extend the series.
From Los Angeles Times
Buyers are backing off due to high housing costs and economic uncertainty.
“The president decided to back off significantly from what he said he would do,” said Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy for the Tax Foundation, a think tank.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
