back away

back away

1. To move slowly and carefully away from something or someone. Kids, back away from the expensive vase! If you encounter a grizzly bear, back away slowly while talking in a normal tone.
2. To retreat on a particular idea or course of action. I think that Marie is backing away from the contract now. Management seems to be backing away from that initiative.
See also: away, back
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

back away

 (from someone or something) and back off (from someone or something)
1. Lit. to move backwards from a person or thing; to withdraw physically from someone or something. You should back away from the fire. Please back off from the man who is threatening you.
2. Fig. to begin to appear uninterested in someone or something; to withdraw one's interest from someone or something. The board of directors began to back away from the idea of taking over the rival company. Tom backed off from the whole idea of investing in stocks.
See also: away, back
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

back away

1. Walk backward, as in He cautiously backed away from the fire.
2. Gradually retreat, withdraw, as in Since he couldn't convince his colleagues, he's backing away from his original idea. Both usages employ the verb back in the sense of "retreat," dating from the late 1400s. Also see back down; back out.
See also: away, back
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

back away

v.
1. To move backward away from something or someone; retreat: The dog backed away from the hissing cat. I told the kids to keep their distance from the burning fire, but they wouldn't back away.
2. To move something backward away from something or someone; retreat: I backed the car away from the oncoming traffic.
3. To withdraw one's interest or support from something or someone: The candidate backed away from his previous controversial views.
See also: away, back
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • drift away
  • draw away from (someone or something)
  • creep away
  • ease away
  • die away
  • draw away
  • drag (someone or something) away from (something)
  • conduct
  • conduct (someone or something) away
  • conduct away
References in periodicals archive
"I see a reason to back away from the overkill [idea] as the only effective model," he says.
Ancient people sparked die-offs down under
On the other hand the opponents could call everyone's bluff, back away and see if the city and the developer truly want to move forward with what is on the drawing board.
With legal hurdles gone, is Coliseum plan a go?
(No.1 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100s list) considered and then back away from an IPO.
Wall street wizards
DUNFERMLINE chairman John Yorkston won't back away from his threat to take court action against the SPL if the Pars are barred from playing on their XL plastic pitch.
Football: Last-pitch battle
Worldchampion Sebastien Loeb is revelling in his current superiority over title rival Petter Solberg and has promised he will not back away from a fight in this weekend's Cyprus Rally.
RALLYING: Loeb revels in beating Solberg
Private economists reacted to Greenspan's self-serving analysis by saying, in effect: "Alan--put down the crack pipe and back away from the printing press."
He's kidding--right?
But if you look at the likes of Australian Rules when two players get involved in a fracas they others actually back away. That's a message we will be sending out loud and clear.
GAELIC GOSSIP: DUFFY IN HOT-SEAT
anger, punishment, or exclusion from the family fold--may back away from the disclosure or tacitly agree never to mention the G word.
Mom, Dad, I'm not going away
Gordon at Stanford University says the beneficial effect of low aggression is "an idea that should be pursued, but there are other ideas that should be pursued, too." For example, in California, whichever ants find food usually keep it, and latecomers just back away. "Generally, the Argentine ants tend to get there first," she says.
At peace with itself, an ant triumphs
Move up close, back away. Now you see it, now you don't: "it" being, depending on your point of view, either the material surface of a painting, or the illusions it was meant to constitute before your very eyes.
On Abstract Art
BACK away now, Whitney Port - or someone might just sneak up behind you and ping that bra strap.
Bravo Whit
Brown prepared for game wardens, he tried to slowly back away, but the bear continued to approach, then stopped, then approached again.
Humans and bears
"Yet producers and editors unthinkingly back away from the 'G' word like an infectious disease." The 20-yew media veteran says he is "deeply concerned that in a medium which today pushes the limits on the use of language once considered unacceptable, there is a permeating discrimination of the name G-O-D.
D.C. snipers and answered prayer. (Insider Report)