back off

British  

verb

1. (intr) to retreat

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

---

back off Idioms  

1. See back down , def. 2.

2. Relent, abandon one's stand. For example, The chairman wanted to sell one division but later backed off . [Mid-1900s]

---

Example Sentences

Faced with the prospect of intervention becoming full-scale war, and under strong domestic popular pressure to avoid any such bloodbath, Ecowas leaders backed off - opting to rely on sanctions.

From BBC

Prospective buyers are backing off because even though monthly mortgage payments are down 1.2% year over year, housing costs are still high.

From The Wall Street Journal

There is no sign the government is backing off, but Kyle recently told a committee of MPs that there were 26 consultations to come on exactly how these measures will be implemented.

From BBC

But the Australian felt strong in the final session in Las Vegas, only to come across a yellow flag on his final run and have to back off.

From BBC

Beijing’s October threats to restrict rare-earth exports—a position it later backed off from—injected more volatility into the sector.

From Barron's

Related Words

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