get off someone's back
Cease the pressure
To get off someone's back is to stop criticizing, nagging, or pressuring them: Get off my back—I said I'd do it later.
The image is of a burden or pest clinging to someone.
The opposite, to get on someone's back, means to start hassling them.
I wish my boss would get off my back about the deadline.
- lay offTerminate employment temporarily
- ease upBecome less intense
- back offStop pressing someone
- back downWithdraw from a stance
- step offExit by foot
butt out · mind your own business · leave me alone · boundaries · let it go · let it be · give it a rest · autonomy · chill out · cool your jets · disengage · lighten up · independence · personal space · space · freedom · respect · take it easy
get off someone's backbreathe down someone's neck
Scrutinize someone oppressively closely
get off someone's backmicromanage
Excessive oversight of subordinates
watch like a hawk · keep tabs on · helicopter · shadow · track
getting, someone, backed, backing, backer, backside, backbone, backyard, setback