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