back off

Verb

back off (third-person singular simple present backs off, present participle backing off, simple past and past participle backed off)

1. (literally) To move backwards away from something.
   • I tried to back off slowly from the tiger in my path.
2. (idiomatic) To become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act.
   • You need to back off, or the situation could turn ugly.
   • I was going to sue until my legal advisors told me to back off.
3. (idiomatic) To lower the setting of.
   • Could you back off the volume a bit? It’s really loud.

   Synonyms:

   dial back, turn down

4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see back, off.
   • The machine may go back off if it gets too hot. [= turn off again, turn back off].