leave back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'leave back' is not correct or usable in written English.
The correct phrase is 'leave behind'. For example, "I had to leave behind my favourite stuffed animal when I moved."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Software developers routinely leave "back doors" in their products.

The Guardian - Opinion

And with that, it's time for him to leave, back to the drawing board.

The Guardian

Finally, she is well enough to leave: "Back on track," her father says, pushing a martini at her.

The New York Times - Books

"The argument has to be on what you are going to do for the students you leave back".

The New York Times

British and American sources observe that the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, told them to leave back in 2011.

The Guardian - Opinion

Coach Bruce Arena decided to leave back midfielder Henry Gutierrez, defender Marcelo Balboa and forward Jason Kreis.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

With the way this England team seem to sit in and wait for the new ball from about the 65th over, it's always something of a disappointment when it fails to leave Back-To-The-Future-style scorch marks in the air on its arrival.

The Guardian - Sport

In Japan, Disney strategically about-faced by pursuing an OEM-like strategy: They leave back-end operations (distribution, price planning, sales, billing, etc).

TechCrunch

There is no real reason to have them crowd each other, especially as we leave Back-To-School season and roll into the holidays when a new iPad may be just what Santa ordered.

TechCrunch

In Japan, Disney strategically about-faced by pursuing an OEM-like strategy: They leave back-end operations (distribution, price planning, sales, billing, etc). to their partner and focus on bringing content, design know-how and brand value into the partnership.

TechCrunch

Left back.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "leave back" in your writing. Use "leave behind" instead, as it is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Common error

A common mistake is using "leave back" when you intend to say "leave behind". Always double-check your word choice to ensure you are using the correct preposition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave back" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, although it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Examples in Ludwig show its varied usage, often intending to convey the meaning of abandoning or setting aside, though Ludwig AI states the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

17%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "leave back" appears in various sources, it's crucial to understand that it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct alternative is "leave behind". Although "leave back" is found in news articles, wikis, and other online content, its use should be avoided in formal and professional writing. Always opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and credibility. Remember that the intention behind "leave back" often revolves around abandoning, postponing, or setting something aside, so choose your replacement phrase accordingly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leave behind

This is the most direct and grammatically correct alternative, focusing on abandoning something.

abandon

This alternative focuses on the act of completely giving up or deserting something.

relinquish

Implies a more formal or deliberate giving up of something.

postpone

Suggests delaying something to a later time.

defer

Similar to postpone, but often implies yielding to another's judgment or request.

put off

A more informal way to say postpone or delay.

set aside

Implies reserving something for a specific purpose or future use.

shelve

Suggests putting a project or idea on hold, often indefinitely.

hold over

Similar to postpone, indicating that something is being kept for a later time or date.

withdraw

This alternative describes removing or retracting something previously offered or stated.

FAQs

What is the correct alternative to "leave back"?

The correct and commonly accepted alternative to "leave back" is "leave behind". This phrase is used to indicate abandoning something or someone.

Is "leave back" grammatically correct?

No, "leave back" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's best to avoid using this phrase in formal writing.

How can I use "leave behind" in a sentence?

You can use "leave behind" in a sentence like: "I had to leave behind my favorite book when I moved".

What's the difference between "leave back" and "leave behind"?

"Leave back" is generally considered incorrect, while "leave behind" is the proper way to express the idea of abandoning or forgetting something.