backing out

verbwithdraw

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Synonyms for backing out

verb withdraw

More words related to backing out

cold feet

noun. loss of nerve preventing completion of an action

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 backing out

I don't; I'm as dry as any of you, but I have no idea of backing out.

The men were backing out of its way, when suddenly it slewed round its tail.

Pretty mean I should have felt, backing out of a thing like that!

They hoped that he would put an end to his thoughts of backing out of it.

No, there was no possibility of his backing out of the affair now and washing his hands of it.

She had the courage of carrying off as well as of backing out.

Miser Farebrother is bound to me, and there shall be no backing out.

Think well, 96 because there can be no backing out when we have started.

"Thank you very much," I started, as a prelude to backing out.

Could it be possible that she herself was desirous of backing out.

backing out

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

More words related to backing out

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

Synonyms for backing out

cold feet