back out

verbwithdraw

Synonyms for back out

verb withdraw

Word Origin & History

Old English bæc "back," from Proto-Germanic *bakam (cf. Old Saxon and Middle Dutch bak, Old Frisian bek), with no known connections outside Germanic.

The cognates mostly have been ousted in this sense in other modern Germanic languages by words akin to Modern English ridge (cf. Danish ryg, German Rücken). Many Indo-European languages show signs of once having distinguished the horizontal back of an animal (or a mountain range) from the upright back of a human. In other cases, a modern word for "back" may come from a word related to "spine" (Italian schiena, Russian spina) or "shoulder, shoulder blade" (Spanish espalda, Polish plecy).

To turn (one's) back on (someone or something) "ignore" is from early 14c. Behind (someone's) back "clandestinely" is from late 14c.

To know (something) like the back of one's hand, implying familiarity, is first attested 1893. The first attested use of the phrase is from a dismissive speech made to a character in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Catriona":

The story, a sequel to "Kidnapped," has a Scottish setting and context, and the back of my hand to you was noted in the late 19th century as a Scottish expression meaning "I will have nothing to do with you" [e.g. "Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language"]. In English generally, the back of (one's) hand has been used to imply contempt and rejection since at least 1300. Perhaps the connection of a menacing dismissal is what made Stevenson choose that particular anatomical reference.

Example Sentences for back out

If I talk fight, I won't begin for no reason and then back out for no reason.

I should hate to ask Sol Bangs for anything and then have to back out afterwards.

"I've gone too far to back out," admitted Boyne, patting the outside of his coat.

"You can back out, if you want to," added Richard, in an indifferent tone.

If you are afraid, Sandy, back out, and we will go home again.

After a moment the officers began to back out, one by one, through the doorway.

She might feel that she ought to get a bit of her own back out of the plaintiff's solicitor.

I don't want to back out while the rest of the fellows stick.

He tried to back out, but dropped his reins and swore dutifully.

It was monstrous unhandy to git to it, but I was termined not to back out.

back out

Synonyms for back out

abandoning

back away

back down

backing down

chicken out

back out

Synonyms .css-1u0ksf7{color:#d9d9d9;}for back out

More words related to back out

.css-1unrqcp{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}abandon

abandoning

back away

back down

backing down

chicken out

Synonyms for back out

abandon