Grammar fix
back off
stop applying pressure
To stop interfering with or putting pressure on someone.
phrasal verb
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inMostly spoken
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The reporter kept asking personal questions, so I told him to back off.
My mum used to call me every day when I first moved out, and in the end I had to tell her, nicely, to back off a bit.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: Back down. I need time to think.
Say: Back off. I need time to think.
'Back down' means give up your position in an argument; 'back off' means stop pressuring someone.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Tell someone to stop pressuring a person
How bluntAppealingConfrontational
give someone a breakAsk someone to ease criticism or pressure on a person.lay offInformal: tell someone to stop criticizing or bothering a person.
back offYou're here · Firmly tell someone to stop interfering or applying pressure.