Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.
back off — phrasal verb [intransitive] Word forms back off : present tense I/you/we/they back off he/she/it backs off present participle backing off past tense backed off past participle backed off 1) to move backwards in order to get further away from… … English dictionary
back off — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you back off, you move away in order to avoid problems or a fight. [V P] They backed off in horror. 2) PHRASAL VERB If you back off from a claim, demand, or commitment that you made earlier, or if you back off it, you withdraw… … English dictionary
ˌback ˈoff — phrasal verb to move backwards in order to get further away from something … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
back — back1 [ bæk ] adverb *** ▸ 1 returning to place/state ▸ 2 as reply or reaction ▸ 3 away from the front ▸ 4 away from someone/something ▸ 5 toward beginning of something ▸ 6 in/into the past ▸ 7 in a different place ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) returning to a … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
back — I [[t]bæ̱k[/t]] ADVERB USES ♦ (In addition to the uses shown below, back is also used in phrasal verbs such as date back and fall back on .) 1) ADV: ADV after v, oft ADV prep If you move back, you move in the opposite direction to the one in… … English dictionary
back — back1 W1S1 [bæk] adv ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(return to place)¦ 2¦(as before)¦ 3¦(previous place)¦ 4¦(backwards)¦ 5¦(reply/reaction)¦ 6¦(return something to somebody)¦ 7¦(in the past)¦ 8¦(again)¦ 9 sit/lie/lean back 10¦(away)¦ … Dictionary of contemporary English
back down — verb 1. move backwards from a certain position (Freq. 2) The bully had to back down • Syn: ↑back up, ↑back off • Derivationally related forms: ↑backdown • Hypernyms: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
off — /awf, of/, adv. 1. so as to be no longer supported or attached: This button is about to come off. 2. so as to be no longer covering or enclosing: to take a hat off; to take the wrapping off. 3. away from a place: to run off; to look off toward… … Universalium
back */*/*/ — I UK [bæk] / US adverb 1) a) in the direction that is behind you Don t look back, but there s a man following us. He asked us to move back a few yards. b) in a position where your back is leaning backwards lean/sit/lie back: She leant back in her … English dictionary
back up — verb 1. give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to (Freq. 3) She supported him during the illness Her children always backed her up • Syn: ↑support • Derivationally related forms: ↑backup, ↑supportive … Useful english dictionary
