back off
phrasal verbback off
- to move backwards in order to get away from somebody/something frightening or unpleasant
- As the riot police approached, the crowd backed off.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- to stop threatening, criticizing or annoying somebody
- Back off! There's no need to yell at me.
- The press have agreed to back off and leave the couple alone.
back off (from something)
- to choose not to take action, in order to avoid a difficult situation
- The government backed off from a confrontation.