English · Phrasal verb Attested

back out

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To reverse (a vehicle) from a confined space.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

lùi xe ra khỏi không gian hẹp

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

He backed out of the garage.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To withdraw from something one has agreed to do.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

rút lui khỏi cam kết

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To convince (someone) to withdraw from a challenge.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

thuyết phục ai đó rút lui

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

to retreat from a difficulty; reverse of GO AHEAD. Metaphor borrowed from the stables.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

rút lui khỏi khó khăn

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “back out” mean?

To reverse (a vehicle) from a confined space.

Is “back out” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.