Definition of the Phrasal Verb “Back Off”

“Back off” is a phrasal verb that means to withdraw or move away from a situation or person, usually to avoid confrontation, reduce tension, or show respect for boundaries. It can also mean to stop insisting on something or to decrease one’s involvement in a matter.

Prepositions

• Before “back off”: Often used with the word “from” when specifying what is being avoided or distanced.
  • Example: “He backed off from the argument to prevent further escalation.”
• After “back off”: Typically followed directly by the noun or noun phrase representing what is being avoided or distanced.
  • Example: “She backed off the project after realizing the scope was too large.”

Collocations

• Back off from
• Back off a situation
• Back off a claim
• Back off a demand
• Back off slowly

Example Sentences

1. When the argument became heated, he decided to back off to avoid making things worse.
2. She backed off from her initial demand for a higher salary after further negotiations.
3. The company had to back off from its controversial policy due to public backlash.
4. He was told to back off from the confrontation to maintain a peaceful environment.
5. They decided to back off from the deal when they realized it wasn’t beneficial.
6. She backed off from her aggressive approach once she saw how upset it made her friend.
7. The negotiator backed off from the stringent terms to facilitate a compromise.
8. He backed off from the discussion when it became clear that no agreement could be reached.
9. The crowd backed off from the stage to give the performers more space.
10. She backed off from pursuing the complaint after the issue was resolved.
11. He backed off from his strong stance on the issue after receiving additional information.
12. The dog growled, causing everyone to back off for safety.
13. They decided to back off from the new project due to budget constraints.
14. She backed off from the intense negotiation to avoid further conflict.
15. The police officer told the crowd to back off from the crime scene.
16. He backed off from making a public statement until he had more details.
17. The team backed off from their aggressive marketing strategy to reassess their approach.
18. She backed off from her commitment to the event after realizing she was overbooked.
19. He was advised to back off from the legal battle to avoid escalating costs.
20. They backed off from the merger talks after evaluating the risks involved.
21. She backed off from her initial criticism after understanding the full context.
22. He backed off from his demand for an immediate response after further discussions.
23. The company had to back off from its planned layoffs due to employee protests.
24. She backed off from the heated debate to let cooler heads prevail.
25. The team decided to back off from the competitive bid to focus on other opportunities.
26. He backed off from the aggressive sales tactics after receiving customer complaints.
27. They backed off from the contentious policy to focus on more urgent issues.
28. She backed off from pushing for changes when it became clear that they were unpopular.
29. The manager asked the staff to back off from the demanding deadlines to reduce stress.
30. He backed off from his position on the issue after the counterarguments were presented.
31. They decided to back off from the event planning due to unforeseen complications.
32. She backed off from the detailed analysis to get a broader perspective.
33. The negotiator backed off from the initial offer to make room for negotiation.
34. He backed off from his insistence on a strict deadline after understanding the project constraints.
35. The organization backed off from its decision to increase membership fees after feedback.
36. She backed off from pursuing the matter further to avoid unnecessary conflict.
37. He backed off from the public criticism once he realized the impact on his reputation.
38. The committee decided to back off from the proposal after considering the community’s input.
39. She backed off from the plan to restructure the department after staff concerns.
40. He backed off from the aggressive investment strategy to mitigate financial risks.
41. They backed off from the project timeline to ensure quality over speed.
42. She backed off from her original stance on the policy after further evaluation.
43. The team backed off from the high-pressure tactics to improve their client relationships.
44. He backed off from demanding immediate results to allow for a more thorough process.
45. The company had to back off from its planned expansion due to market conditions.
46. She backed off from her push for immediate implementation after considering logistical challenges.
47. He backed off from criticizing the new system after understanding its benefits.
48. The community backed off from protesting once the issue was addressed.
49. She backed off from her aggressive negotiation style to build better rapport with the other party.
50. He backed off from his controversial position to avoid further divisiveness.