English Dictionary |
BACK OFF
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Dictionary entry overview: What does back off mean?
• BACK OFF (verb)
The verb BACK OFF has 2 senses:
1. move backwards from a certain position
2. remove oneself from an obligation
Familiarity information: BACK OFF used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Move backwards from a certain position
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
Context example:
The bully had to back down
Hypernyms (to "back off" is one way to...):
draw back; move back; pull away; pull back; recede; retire; retreat; withdraw (pull back or move away or backward)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sense 2
Meaning:
Remove oneself from an obligation
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
back down; back off; bow out; chicken out; pull out
Context example:
He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved
Hypernyms (to "back off" is one way to...):
retire; withdraw (lose interest)
Verb group:
get out; pull out (move out or away)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "back off"):
resile (pull out from an agreement, contract, statement, etc.)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Context examples
This he resented, and when she stood shoulder to shoulder with him, bristling and showing her teeth, the aspiring solitary ones would back off, turn-tail, and continue on their lonely way.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
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