back off

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back off

verb backs off · backing off · backed off

literally To move backwards away from something. I tried to back off slowly from the tiger in my path.
idiomatic To become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act. You need to back off, or the situation could turn ugly.
idiomatic To lower the setting of. Could you back off the volume a bit? It’s really loud.
Similar: dial back, turn down
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see back, off. The machine may go back off if it gets too hot. [= turn off again, turn back off].

Translations

Every language

verb to move backwards away from something

Português	recuar, retroceder
Français	reculer
Русский	отступа́ть otstupátʹ

verb to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act

Español	dejar/parar de insistir
Français	mettre de l'eau dans son vin

verb to lower the setting of

Français	baisser d'un ton

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MLA

"back off." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/back%20off. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

back off. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/back%20off

Chicago

"back off." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/back%20off.

BibTeX

@misc{back_off_2026,
  title = {back off},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/back%20off},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}