Which one is correct?
"back out" or "back off"?

Question

Which one is correct?
"back out" or "back off"?

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It means to withdraw from a commitment or agreement, often at the last minute. It implies not following through with a promise or plan.

Examples:

He promised to help, but he backed out at the last minute.
She decided to back out of the deal due to financial concerns.
Don't back out of your responsibilities; you need to follow through.
I can't believe he backed out of the project after all the planning we did.
She was supposed to come, but she backed out because of a family emergency.

Alternatives:

withdraw from
pull out of
renege on
retract
opt out of

It means to move away or retreat, especially in a confrontational or threatening situation. It can also imply stopping an action or behavior.

Examples:

The dog growled at me, so I had to back off slowly.
She told him to back off and give her some space.
The police asked the crowd to back off from the crime scene.
When he saw her angry expression, he decided to back off.
I had to back off from the argument to avoid escalating the situation.

Alternatives:

step back
retreat
withdraw
recede
back away

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and usage. 'Back off' means to move away or retreat, often used in a confrontational or threatening situation. 'Back out' means to withdraw from a commitment or agreement. They are not interchangeable as they convey different actions.

Last Updated: March 24, 2024