To back out

To back out
Back Back, v. i. 1. To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back. [1913 Webster]

2. (Naut.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind. [1913 Webster]

3. (Sporting) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]

{To back and fill}, to manage the sails of a ship so that the wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in order to keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel while the current or tide carries the vessel against the wind. Hence: (Fig.) To take opposite positions alternately; to assert and deny. [Colloq.]

{To back out}, {To back down}, to retreat or withdraw from a promise, engagement, or contest; to recede. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Cleon at first . . . was willing to go; but, finding that he [Nicias] was in earnest, he tried to back out. --Jowett (Thucyd. ) [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • back out — [v] withdraw avoid, back down, back pedal*, beg off*, blow it off*, cancel, chicken out*, cop out*, get cold feet*, give up, go back on, recant, renege, resign, scratch, shy from, surrender, throw in the towel*, weasel out, welsh, wiggle out,… …   New thesaurus

  • back out of something — back out (of (something)) to refuse to do something agreed to earlier. I said I d help, and I can t back out now …   New idioms dictionary

  • back out of — back out (of (something)) to refuse to do something agreed to earlier. I said I d help, and I can t back out now …   New idioms dictionary

  • back out — (of (something)) to refuse to do something agreed to earlier. I said I d help, and I can t back out now …   New idioms dictionary

  • back out — ► back out withdraw from a commitment. Main Entry: ↑back …   English terms dictionary

  • back|out — «BAK OWT», noun. Informal. a backing out; withdrawal …   Useful english dictionary

  • back out (of something) — ˌback ˈout (of sth) derived to decide that you are no longer going to take part in sth that has been agreed • He lost confidence and backed out of the deal at the last minute. Main entry: ↑backderived …   Useful english dictionary

  • back out — index abandon (physically leave), abandon (withdraw), defect, disavow, quit (discontinue), renege, retreat …   Law dictionary

  • back out — verb 1. move out of a space backwards (Freq. 2) He backed out of the driveway • Hypernyms: ↑back • Verb Frames: Somebody s Somebody s PP 2. make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity …   Useful english dictionary

  • back out — phrasal verb [intransitive] Word forms back out : present tense I/you/we/they back out he/she/it backs out present participle backing out past tense backed out past participle backed out to decide not to do something you agreed to do I promised… …   English dictionary

  • back out — {v. phr.} 1. To move backwards out of a place or enclosure. * /Bob slowly backed his car out of the garage./ 2. To withdraw from an activity one has promised to carry out. * /Jim tried to back out of the engagement with Jane, but she insisted… …   Dictionary of American idioms

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