Definition of "back off" []

• To move backwards away from something. (verb)
• To become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act. (verb)
• To lower the setting of. (verb)

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• "France was still nervous that our draft resolution was too strong, and Gourdault-Montagne repeatedly called Hadley urging that we back off the French having obviously given up on persuading me, or even Jones Parry, who this time was hanging tough, for some reason."
• "Looking back to Mogad he added, “Make him back off and let my man go.”"
• "Ronald Reagan had drawn on it and mounted a serious challenge to Fords nomination as the Republican Partys presidential candidate in 1976, causing Ford to back off Kissingers proposal to complete a SALT II agreement on available terms."