BACK OFF
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
• BACK OFF (verb)
Meaning:
Move backwards from a certain position
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
back down; back off; back up
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
Meaning:
Remove oneself from an obligation
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
bow out; chicken out; back down; back off; 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)
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
