Phrasal Verbs
- 1to move backward in order to get away from someone or something frightening or unpleasant As the riot police approached the crowd backed off.
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- 2to stop threatening, criticizing, or annoying someone Back off! There's no need to yell at me. The press have agreed to back off and leave the couple alone.
to choose not to take action, in order to avoid a difficult situation The government backed off from a confrontation.