What does "back out" mean?

To withdraw from a commitment To change your mind and not do something you promised.

How do you use "back out" in a sentence?

He backed out at the last minute. You can't back out now. They backed out of the deal.

Phrasal Verb BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

Meaning: To withdraw from a commitment

退出、撤回承诺、打退堂鼓

Echarse atrás, retractarse

手を引く、約束を取り消す、撤退する

약속을 철회하다, 손을 떼다

To change your mind and not do something you promised.

改变主意，不履行承诺或协议。

Cambiar de opinión y no hacer lo que habías prometido.

約束したことをやめること。土壇場で撤退すること。

약속했던 일을 마음을 바꿔 하지 않는 것.

Base verb: back

Particle: out

Separable: No — the verb and particle stay together

He backed out at the last minute.
他在最后一刻打了退堂鼓
Se echó atrás en el último momento
彼は土壇場で手を引いた
그는 마지막 순간에 손을 뗐다.
You can't back out now.
你现在不能退出了
Ya no puedes echarte atrás
今さら引けないよ
이제 와서 빠질 수 없어.
They backed out of the deal.
他们从交易中退出了
Se retiraron del acuerdo
彼らは取引から撤退した
그들은 거래에서 철수했다.

Context: commitments, deals

Tone: disappointed

From physically reversing.

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal