back offとは 意味・読み方・使い方

動詞

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.

   Coordinate terms: back away, back out, back up, stand back

   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.

   Coordinate terms: back down, stand down

   • 2007 October 10, David M. Herszenhorn, “Capitol Feud: A 12-Year-Old Is the Fodder”, in New York Times‎:

     Republicans on Capitol Hill, who were gearing up to use Graeme as evidence that Democrats have overexpanded the health program to include families wealthy enough to afford private insurance, have backed off.

   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.

   Synonyms: dial back, turn down

   Coordinate term: back out

   Could you back off the volume a bit? It’s really loud.

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].

派生語

• backoff (noun)

名詞

backoff (countable and uncountable, plural backoffs)

1. (computing) The situation where an algorithm or process refrains from taking an action it would otherwise have taken.

   a backoff strategy to avoid collisions

2. (surfing) The situation where an incoming wave passes from shallower water to a deeper area, making the wave less steep and potentially unsurfable.
   • 1997, James MacLaren, Learn to Surf, page 82:

     The surfer is in the middle of a backoff. Paddle for unbroken waves butterfly-style, with both arms at the same time, instead of using the crawl stroke that got you out to where the waves are breaking.

   • 2012, Kimberly Young Chopin, Metamorphosis: A Love Story, page 22:

     I fastened the board's leash to my ankle, jumped on and paddled past the backoff.