Withdrawing from an agreement

The idea

In neutral everyday English, back out means withdraw from an agreement or plan. Use back out of before a noun, pronoun or -ing form; the parts cannot be separated.

Examples

• The sponsor backed out of the deal yesterday.
• We agreed to help, so we cannot back out now.
• The band backed out of playing at the festival.
• If the buyer backs out, we will contact the next person.
• They backed out of their promise to fund the garden.
• One volunteer backed out of the trip at the last minute.

Watch out

Do not say back out the deal: use of. A person backs out; the agreement itself may fall through.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. The investor ___ out yesterday. (backed / backs)

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   backed

   backed fits the completed event yesterday.

2. Choose the correct option. They backed out ___ the contract. (of / from)

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   of

   of introduces the contract being abandoned.

3. Choose the correct option. We agreed to speak, but then we ___. (backed out / carried out)

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   backed out

   backed out expresses withdrawal from the promised talk.

Use it today

Describe a plan someone withdrew from.