back off

To stop threatening, bothering, or putting pressure on someone.

• Please back off a little.
• He backed off when she refused to discuss it.
• The company finally backed off from its threats to sue.

How to use it: back off from something (They backed off from their demands after the meeting.)

Similar words: ease off, lay off, back down

Common phrases: back off someone, back off a little, back off from something

To move backwards to get farther away from someone or something.

• Back off from the edge.
• She backed off slowly as the dog approached.
• The crowd backed off to give the injured man space.

How to use it: back off from someone/something (We backed off from the barking dog.)

Similar words: retreat, move back

Opposites: advance, approach

Common phrases: back off slowly, back off from something

To reduce a setting such as volume, speed, or power.

• Back off the volume, please.
• She backed off the throttle as the boat approached shore.
• You may need to back off the power to prevent overheating.

How to use it: back off something (Back off the heat once the water boils.)

Similar words: turn down, reduce

Opposites: turn up, increase

Common phrases: back off the volume, back off the throttle

Used when something returns to a state in which it is switched off.

• The light went back off.
• The heater turns back off when the room gets warm.
• Will the machine go back off if it overheats?

Common phrases: go back off, switch back off, turn back off