Discover key phrasal verbs related to "back" and their meanings. Explore various contexts and usage examples in this informative lesson.
1.
Back down (
Take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to):
- He initially argued fiercely, but eventually backed down to avoid escalating the conflict.
- They threatened legal action but eventually backed down when faced with strong opposition.
- The government decided to back down after public protests against their proposed policy.
2.
Back into (
Rely upon another team’s loss in order to advance to the post-season):
- Their team backed into the playoffs after the opposing team lost their final game.
- They were fortunate to back into the championship round due to unexpected outcomes in other matches.
- Their chances seemed slim, but they managed to back into the tournament with a stroke of luck.
3.
Back off (
Move backwards away from something):
- As the dog growled, he cautiously backed off to avoid any potential danger.
- When confronted by the aggressive driver, she quickly backed off to defuse the tension.
- They approached the wild animal carefully, but it suddenly lunged, causing them to back off in fear.
4.
Back off (
Become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act):
- He seemed ready to engage in a heated argument but then decided to back off and seek a peaceful resolution.
- After realizing the consequences, she chose to back off from the risky business venture.
- They had initially threatened to take legal action, but eventually, they backed off and pursued a different approach.
5.
Back off (
Lower the setting of):
- The guitarist decided to back off the volume to create a softer and more mellow tone.
- She adjusted the stove and backed off the heat to prevent the sauce from burning.
- They realized the spotlight was too intense and chose to back off the brightness for a more subtle effect.
6.
Back onto (
Reverse a vehicle onto something):
- He skillfully backed onto the loading dock, aligning the truck with precision.
- The driver carefully backed onto the driveway, avoiding any obstacles along the way.
- She struggled to back onto the narrow street due to limited visibility from the rear.
7.
Back onto (
Overlook something from the rear):
- From the balcony, they could back onto the beautiful garden behind their house.
- The hotel room backed onto a scenic mountain view, providing a picturesque backdrop.
- Their office window backed onto an alley, offering a unique and interesting view of urban life.
8.
Back out (
Reverse a vehicle from a confined space):
- He skillfully backed out of the tight parking spot without hitting the surrounding cars.
- She cautiously backed out of the narrow alley, ensuring there was no oncoming traffic.
- They had to wait for another car to back out of the space before they could park.
9.
Back out (
Withdraw from something one has agreed to do):
- At the last minute, he decided to back out of the business partnership due to personal reasons.
- She reluctantly backed out of the commitment to attend the event due to a scheduling conflict.
- They had no choice but to back out of the contract when the other party failed to meet the agreed-upon terms.
10.
Back out (
Undo a change):
- He realized his mistake and quickly decided to back out of the contract modification.
- She accidentally made a wrong edit and had to find a way to back out of the unwanted changes.
- They had to carefully analyze the impact before deciding to back out of the software update.
11.
Back up (
Move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so):
- The driver skillfully backed up the car to park in the designated spot.
- He carefully checked his mirrors before backing up the truck to load the goods.
- She had to back up the vehicle to allow enough space for others to pass on the narrow road.
12.
Back up (
Move a vehicle backward):
- They requested the driver to back up the bus to let more passengers on board.
- He signaled the truck driver to back up so they could unload the cargo more efficiently.
- She guided her friend to back up the car safely into the parking space.
13.
Back up (
Undo one’s actions):
- Realizing the error, he decided to back up and revert the changes made to the document.
- She accidentally deleted the file but was relieved to find a way to back up and recover it.
- They had to back up to a previous version of the software due to unexpected bugs in the latest update.
14.
Back up (
Reconsider one’s thoughts):
- After hearing the opposing arguments, he had to back up and rethink his position on the issue.
- She initially disagreed, but later backed up and acknowledged the validity of their point of view.
- They had strong convictions but were willing to back up and consider alternative perspectives.
15.
Back up (
Copy (data) as a security measure):
- It is important to regularly back up your files to prevent data loss in case of hardware failure.
- She diligently backed up her documents to an external hard drive to ensure their safety.
- They set up an automated system to automatically back up critical data to the cloud.
16.
Back up (
Provide support or the promise of support):
- He always backs up his teammates, offering help and guidance whenever needed.
- She assured her friend that she would back her up in the upcoming presentation.
- They rallied together to back up their colleague during the challenging project.
17.
Back up (
Halt the flow or movement of something):
- They had to back up the traffic temporarily to clear the debris from the accident.
- Construction work on the road caused a back up of vehicles during peak hours.
- They strategically placed barriers to back up the water flow and prevent flooding.
Course Home
