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Tinanam0102 Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary
Back up / back off / back down
Hi teachers,
If you're asking a person to move a bit further, do all three mean the same?
Dictionary says they both mean 'to move a bit further', I like to know what the difference between them.
Back up
Back off
Back down
Thank you.
Tinanam
If you're asking a person to move a bit further, do all three mean the same?
Dictionary says they both mean 'to move a bit further', I like to know what the difference between them.
Back up
Back off
Back down
Thank you.
Tinanam
Top answer
No, they don't mean the same, and none of them is really a general purpose expression for "move a bit further". In the sense that you're asking about, these are the usual meanings: "back up" = reverse a vehicle "back off" = move away from someone or something, especially in order to avoid danger or a confrontation "back down" does not usually refer to physical movement. It means to abandon or soften one's position in an argument or disagreement, and concede to or become more conciliatory towards the other party.
- No, they don't mean the same, and none of them is really a general purpose expression for "move a bit further".
- In the sense that you're asking about, these are the usual meanings: "back up" = reverse a vehicle "back off" = move away from someone or something, especially in order to avoid danger or a confrontation "back down" does not usually refer to physical movement.
- It means to abandon or soften one's position in an argument or disagreement, and concede to or become more conciliatory towards the other party.
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7 Answers
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No, they don't mean the same, and none of them is really a general purpose expression for "move a bit further". In the sense that you're asking about, these are the usual meanings:
"back up" = reverse a vehicle
"back off" = move away from someone or something, especially in order to avoid danger or a confrontation
"back down" does not usually refer to physical movement.
"back up" = reverse a vehicle
"back off" = move away from someone or something, especially in order to avoid danger or a confrontation
"back down" does not usually refer to physical movement.
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Hi Mr Wordy,
Thank you for your help.
1. If there has been an accident, and people are surrounding the scene, and the injuried person are lying on the bench where a doctor happened to be on the scene, then the doctor says "people back up, back up, give her some space"
2. "back off" - Is it correct to use this phrase in situation in #1 above.
3. Can I use "p
Thank you for your help.
1. If there has been an accident, and people are surrounding the scene, and the injuried person are lying on the bench where a doctor happened to be on the scene, then the doctor says "people back up, back up, give her some space"
2. "back off" - Is it correct to use this phrase in situation in #1 above.
3. Can I use "p
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In the situation you describe in #1, "move back" is probably most likely. "back off" is also possible. In my parlance, "back up" seems less likely (though not impossible).
Yes, you can say "Please move over a bit" if you want more room, like when you're trying to get on an elevator or train. But to be more polite, it's better to say something more elaborate such as "Excuse me, I wonder i
Yes, you can say "Please move over a bit" if you want more room, like when you're trying to get on an elevator or train. But to be more polite, it's better to say something more elaborate such as "Excuse me, I wonder i
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Hi Mr Wordy,
Thank you very much for the examples. Is "over" in "move over a bit" optional?
Thank you.
Tinanam
Thank you very much for the examples. Is "over" in "move over a bit" optional?
Thank you.
Tinanam
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tinanam0102Thank you very much for the examples. Is "over" in "move over a bit" optional?Grammatically it's optional. Idiomatically, in the kind of situations we're discussing, "over" (or some similar word) helps to smooth and soften the request, so is advisable.
You can also say "move up/down a bit" if the direction can, in context, be visualised a
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Hi,
isn't 'move over' implying that you want a person to move either to the left or to the right but not away from you? what do you say when you want a person to move away from you,like e.g. when a drama teacher is telling the students where they should stand on the stage (giving short directions)
isn't 'move over' implying that you want a person to move either to the left or to the right but not away from you? what do you say when you want a person to move away from you,like e.g. when a drama teacher is telling the students where they should stand on the stage (giving short directions)
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