English

Verb

to back off ‎(phrasal verb)

1. (literally) To move backwards away from something.

   I tried to back off slowly from the tiger in my path.

2. (idiomatic) To become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act.

   You need to back off, or the situation could turn ugly.

   I was going to sue, until my legal advisors told me to back off.

3. (idiomatic) To lower the setting of.

   Could you back off the volume a bit? It's really loud.

Translations

See also

• back down
• back into
• back out
• back up