backing off
Giving some space
Backing off means retreating from a position, stance, or confrontation.
Someone who backs off physically moves away, creating distance from a person or situation.
More often the phrase describes abandoning a demand, threat, or aggressive posture: The company backed off its threat to sue after public backlash.
You might tell someone to back off when they're being too pushy or intrusive.
The phrase can also mean reducing intensity or effort: I've been backing off my training schedule since the injury.
- relentingBecoming less severe
- retreatingMoving back from advance
- withdrawingRemoving or pulling away
- yieldingBending under pressure
- backpedalingReversing one's position
giving ground · de-escalation · softening · easing up · standing down · receding · disengagement · scaling down · reconsideration · recalibration · bowing out · compromise · shrinking · reversing · moving away · cutting losses · getting out · distancing
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
- withdrawalwithdrawing, cash withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, early withdrawal, fund withdrawal
- avoidanceavoidance, distancing, evasion, dodging, pulling away
- leavingdeparture, quit, walking away, withdrawing, bail
- retreatwithdrawal, retreating, withdraw, pullback, retreat
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
backing offescalating
Increasing by degrees
doubling down · ramping up · intensifying · pushing forward · turning up the heat
backing offclosing in
Steadily approaching something
advancing · moving in · approaching · encroaching · crowding
backing offpersisting
Continuing through difficulty
pushing through · going all in · sticking with it · persevering · hanging in
back, backing, off, backed, backs, backer, backers, backings, aback