Meaning
"Back off"는 상대방에게 물리적 또는 감정적으로 거리를 두라는 뜻으로 사용되는 표현입니다. 주로 상대방이 지나치게 가까이 오거나 간섭할 때 이를 막기 위해 씁니다.
사용 예시로는, 누군가가 자신의 일에 지나치게 개입할 때 "Could you back off a little?"이라며 정중하게 거리를 두도록 요청할 수 있습니다. 또한, 위협적인 상황에서 "Back off!"라고 외쳐 상대방이 물러나도록 요구할 때도 있습니다.
이 표현은 일상 대화에서 자주 등장하며, 상대방에게 부담감을 주지 않으면서도 명확하게 자신의 공간이나 감정을 지키고 싶을 때 유용하게 쓸 수 있습니다. Back off는 상대방에게 경고의 의미를 담고 있어, 사용 시 주의가 필요합니다.
Today's Sentences
01
Just back off!
Situation
You shouldn’t come home so late and not tell us where you’ve been.
Just back off!
That’s no way to talk to me.
I’m sorry but I just need some space.
02
Back off from too much exercise.
Situation
My back is killing me.
Back off from too much exercise.
Really?
Do you think it’s a muscle strain?
근육 염좌라고 생각하나요?
It’s certainly possible.
Writer's Note
To "back off" from someone or something means to leave someone alone or withdraw from a situation, often used when someone is being too pushy or aggressive. It may sound rude and isn’t the nicest way to express your feelings. It’s often used in a defensive or angry tone.
- Intransitive: To "back off" is considered an intransitive phrasal verb as it does not require a direct object to complete its meaning.
Example: Don't come any closer, back off. - Inseparable: A non-separable phrasal verb means you cannot place an object between the verb and the particle.
Correct Example 1: ✅ You need to back off.
Correct Example 2: ✅ He told me to back off.
Let's look at some separated examples!
Incorrect Example 1: ❌ You need to back the situation off.
Incorrect Example 2: ❌ He told me to back her off.
These are incorrect because "back off" doesn’t take a direct object and its particle off can’t be moved away from the verb.
예시: 더 가까이 오지 마, back off.
올바른 예시 1: ✅ You need to back off.
올바른 예시 2: ✅ He told me to back off.
이제 몇 가지 분리된 예시를 살펴봅시다!
잘못된 예시 1: ❌ You need to back the situation off.
잘못된 예시 2: ❌ He told me to back her off.
이 예들은 잘못된 것입니다. 왜냐하면 "back off"는 직접 목적어를 취하지 않으며, 그 전치사 off는 동사에서 떨어질 수 없기 때문입니다.
Related Words: Retreat, withdraw, pull back, step back, draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retire, withdraw.
