go back on
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (phrasal verb):
- To fail to keep a promise, agreement, or commitment: To not do what one has said one would do; to renege on an assurance or obligation.
- To withdraw from or reverse a previous position or statement: To change one's mind and not follow through on a stated intention.
Usage
- This phrasal verb is transitive and requires an object (e.g., a promise, word, agreement).
- It is used to describe a negative action—breaking a trust or commitment.
- Common structures: "go back on one's word/promise/agreement/commitment."
Examples
- Verb:
- He promised to help, but he went back on his word at the last minute.
- The company went back on its agreement to provide full healthcare benefits.
- You can trust her; she never goes back on her promises.
Advanced Usage
- "to go back on a deal": to fail to honor the terms of a formal arrangement or contract.
- After shaking hands, it would be dishonorable to go back on the deal.
- The phrasal verb often implies a betrayal of trust or a failure of integrity.
Variants and Related Words
- Renegue (on) (verb): a more formal synonym meaning to go back on a promise, agreement, or contract.
- He reneged on his pledge to donate the money.
- Break (a promise/one's word) (verb phrase): a simpler, more direct synonym.
- She broke her promise to call.
Synonyms
- Break (one's word): To fail to keep a promise.
- Default on: To fail to fulfill an obligation, especially financial.
- Back out (of): To withdraw from a commitment or promise.
- Fail to honor: To not respect or fulfill an agreement.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Back out (of) (phrasal verb): to decide not to do something one has agreed to do.
- He backed out of the project at the last second. (Note: This is closely related but does not use the exact target phrase "go back on.")
Related Idioms
- Break faith with (someone): to stop supporting or being loyal to someone; to betray a trust.
- By selling the land, he broke faith with the community that trusted him.
- Eat one's words: to be forced to retract a statement, often in a humiliating way. (This relates to taking back what was said, but is distinct from failing to fulfill a promise.)
- He had to eat his words after his prediction was proven wrong.
Verb
- fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
- She backed out of her promise