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back off vs back out

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 • 904 views

back off

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

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.
  • Laguerta told me to back off, leave it to the FBI.
  • Or convince Patrick to back off somehow.
  • Fate's telling us to back off.
  • See if we can't convince him to back off.
  • Since psychological complexity isn't your strong suit... back off.
  • Then fell right back off the radar.
  • Look... just back off a little.
  • I've got NTAC telling me to back off.
  • So please just back off and let me do my job like anyone else.
  • You two have to back off.
  • Pry the back off, get to the circuit board.
  • You should listen to your partner and back off from this.
  • That's why you got to back off the ricks case.
  • I told him back off. It's too psychotic.
  • Tell your man to back off or find another doctor.
  • Put those torches on the floor and back off.
  • Maybe you should just back off a bit.
  • The hair was blond, pushed back off the forehead.
  • She never told you to back off.
  • We need them to back off a case.

Alternatives:

  • step back
  • retreat
  • withdraw
  • recede
  • back away

back out

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

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.
  • To climb back out again, that's the difficulty.
  • Even the vendors are back out.
  • So, I just took it right back out.
  • Put the APB back out on Jack, all agencies.
  • She might back out of our deal.
  • Instead of filing the report, we went back out there.
  • My advice is to back out now.
  • Most people spit them right back out.
  • For getting me back out here.
  • And she went back out to get it.
  • Bullet broke two ribs, came right back out.
  • You should get back out there, Pete.
  • Finally, we were ready to get back out there.
  • One of those guys'll back out.
  • Not everyone comes back out of the dark.
  • Maybe it's time to put yourself back out there.
  • dragging us back out here this weekend.
  • You can't back out once you've started.
  • Tyler has reached back out to his mother.
  • Tyler has reached back out to his mother.

Alternatives:

  • withdraw from
  • pull out of
  • renege on
  • retract
  • opt out of

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