back off - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

back off (third-person singular simple present backs off, present participle backing off, simple past and past participle backed off)

  1. (literally) To move backwards away from something.
    Coordinate terms: back away, back out, back up, stand back
    I tried to back off slowly from the tiger in my path.
  2. (idiomatic) To become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act.
    Coordinate terms: back down, stand down
    You need to back off, or the situation could turn ugly.
    I was going to sue until my legal advisors told me to back off.
    • 2007 October 10, David M. Herszenhorn, “Capitol Feud: A 12-Year-Old Is the Fodder”, in New York Times‎[1]:
      Republicans on Capitol Hill, who were gearing up to use Graeme as evidence that Democrats have overexpanded the health program to include families wealthy enough to afford private insurance, have backed off.
  3. (idiomatic) To lower the setting of.
    Synonyms: dial back, turn down
    Coordinate term: back out
    Could you back off the volume a bit? It’s really loud.
  4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see back,‎ off.
    The machine may go back off if it gets too hot. [= turn off again, turn back off].

to move backwards away from something

to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act — see also leave alone,‎ let be