back off

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Sometimes you just need to show up and talk to the community, to get them to back off, leave it alone.”

From Slate • May 27, 2026

At times, the piano players in his groups would simply back off during part of Rollins’ solos, loath to risk following the twisting pathways of his improvising.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

Antonelli tried again into the first corner and had to back off, but now Russell could not shake off his team-mate.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

And so that was only possible because there’s a clinical trial, which is another way of saying to the FDA, “Hey, back off a little bit.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Miss Ellis shook her long blonde hair back off her shoulders.

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson