back out suddenly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "back out suddenly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone withdraws or retreats unexpectedly from a commitment or situation. Example: "After agreeing to help with the project, she decided to back out suddenly, leaving the team in a difficult position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ms. Brewer had planned on attending this year's conference, but backed out suddenly the day before the opening ceremony on Wednesday.

The New York Times

One impersonator backed out suddenly after being interviewed and photographed at length, paranoid that I was trying expose him, to make him look what?

Vice

One impersonator backed out suddenly after being interviewed and photographed at length, paranoid that I was trying to expose him, to make him look what?

Vice

"One of them would jump in the water for a swim, come back out, and suddenly you'd hear a blow-dryer going, 'Bzzzzzzz,' " said one of the observers, who was on a boat nearby.

The New York Times - Style

If your debit card is swallowed by an ATM and you're not sure if it's coming back out, or you suddenly find you've lost your wallet, you will probably want to cancel it quickly.

The Guardian - Money

The bathroom floor is raised in certain areas so that as we crossed it, we could catch occasional glimpses of each other before suddenly dropping back out of view.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's the bit at the end, when you're suddenly pushed back out into the real world – with a big gap in your CV and no references," she says.

The Guardian

As Martin Wolf, a columnist at the Financial Times, explains in a new book‡, the boom was fuelled by the imbalances that grew out of the Asian financial crisis in 1997.Countries that had grown used to incoming foreign capital suffered terribly when it suddenly flowed back out again.

The Economist

The mischievous fairies really helped to create the atmosphere with their many leaps and swivels and the way they seem to creep into the background then suddenly leap back out again like chameleons that keep changing their mind about where to hide.

The Guardian

The local bank with which Foxen had lined up the loan suddenly had to back out.

The New York Times - Food

Put it 900 feet in the air, and suddenly even the bravest back out.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "back out suddenly", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is withdrawing from. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "back out suddenly" when a continuous action is intended. For example, instead of saying "They were backing out suddenly", consider "They suddenly backed out" to emphasize the completed action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back out suddenly" functions as a verb phrase, where "back out" is the verb indicating withdrawal, and "suddenly" is an adverb modifying the verb to emphasize the abruptness of the action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "back out suddenly" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of unexpectedly withdrawing from an agreement or commitment. While Ludwig AI validates its proper use, it's important to consider context and potential redundancies. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources, and while its frequency is only uncommon, its meaning is clear. Alternatives like "withdraw abruptly" or "retreat unexpectedly" can offer similar meaning with slight variations in emphasis. Effective writing utilizes the phrase to convey surprise or frustration, while avoiding potential tense errors or unclear contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

withdraw abruptly

Focuses on the suddenness of the withdrawal, similar to "suddenly".

retreat unexpectedly

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the retreat.

pull out without warning

Highlights the lack of prior notice before withdrawing.

renege impulsively

Suggests a spontaneous and unthinking decision to break a promise.

abandon ship unexpectedly

Uses a nautical metaphor to convey a sudden and surprising abandonment.

rescind swiftly

Emphasizes the speed and decisiveness of canceling an agreement.

flake out abruptly

An informal term implying unreliability and a sudden change of plans.

take a U-turn unexpectedly

Metaphorically refers to a sudden and complete reversal of direction.

change mind impulsively

Highlight a spontaneous decision to revert.

bail out last minute

Focuses on the timing of the withdrawal, emphasizing it's very late.

FAQs

What does "back out suddenly" mean?

The phrase "back out suddenly" means to withdraw from a commitment, agreement, or plan unexpectedly and without much warning.

What can I say instead of "back out suddenly"?

You can use alternatives like "withdraw abruptly", "retreat unexpectedly", or "pull out without warning" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "back out suddenly"?

While "back out" inherently implies withdrawal, adding "suddenly" emphasizes the unexpected nature of the withdrawal, which can be useful for clarity or impact.

How to use "back out suddenly" in a sentence?

Example: "After agreeing to help, she decided to "back out suddenly", leaving the team in a difficult situation." Another example: "The investor decided to "back out suddenly" from the deal, causing significant financial problems for the company".