back off

verb

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

Example Sentences

He subsequently backed off that number of temporary units, while issuing an emergency order to immediately build up to 200, including 32 on the parking lot of UCLA’s Jackie Robinson baseball stadium.

From Los Angeles Times

You cannot point the finger at any England player, but perhaps as a whole they were backing off and not wanting to give away a penalty.

From BBC

New Zealand dealt England a deflating start to their autumn campaign as Mark Tele'a came back off the bench to score a decisive 76th-minute try and continue the All Blacks' run of superiority.

From BBC

He had been 0.1secs or so off Russell’s pace until he backed off out of the final corner.

From BBC

He threatened a broader set of tariffs on Mexican goods, but eventually backed off after extracting a promise from Mexican authorities to take measures to stop migrants from reaching the U.S. border.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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