back away

1. Gradually retreat, withdraw, as in Since he couldn't convince his colleagues, he's backing away from his original idea . Both usages employ the verb back in the sense of “retreat,” dating from the late 1400s. Also see back down ; back out .

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

Example Sentences

At a meeting in June, Dr. Sasse seemed to back away from the plan, saying no changes would be made until further notice and an external analysis had been completed.

From New York Times

Some BaronHR clients backed away as the agency’s troubles became more widely known, but hundreds remained steadfast.

From New York Times

However, he is not backing away from the challenge.

From BBC

In a sign of how salient the issue of abortion has been for voters, Republican White House nominee Donald Trump, a resident of Florida, has tried to back away from his once-hardline stance against abortion.

From BBC

In August, Newsom backed away from an earlier plan he had to lower the infrastructure interest rate after criticism from the big utilities and electrical workers’ union, according to a report by the Sacramento Bee.

From Los Angeles Times