back down
back off
To give up a claim; not follow up a threat.
Bill said he could beat Ted, but when Ted put up his fists Bill backed down.
Harry claimed Joe had taken his book, but backed down when the teacher talked with him.
be better off
be worse off
To be in a more favourable condition or situation.
The opposite of this idiom is to be worse off.
The opposite of this idiom is to be worse off.
Jim would be better off staying at home because of his cold.
You’d be much better off working in an office than in a factory.
The economies of some nations are worse off than they were several decades ago.
be off
To be in error; miscalculate.
The estimator was off by at least 35% on the value of the house.
To leave.
Jack ate his supper in a hurry and was off without saying goodbye.
Cancelled; terminated.
The weather was so bad that we were told that the trip was off.
Crazy.
I'm sure Aunt Mathilda is a bit off; no one in her right mind would say such things.
Free from work; having vacation time.
Although we were off for the rest of the day, we couldn't go to the beach because it started to rain.
beat the pants off
To prevail over someone in a race or competition.
Jim beat the pants off George in the swimming race.
To give someone a severe physical beating.
Jack beat the pants off the two young men who were trying to hold him up in Central Park.
beg off
To ask to be excused.
Father told Tom to rake the yard, but Tom tried to beg off.
Mrs. Crane accepted an invitation to a luncheon, but a headache made her beg off.
bite off more than one can chew
To try to do more than you can; be too confident of your ability.
Попытаться сделать больше чем можешь; не рассчитать своих сил; взяться за непосильное дело.
He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to edit the paper alone.
He started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off more than he could chew.
It’s a very difficult project and he may find he’s bitten off more than he can chew.
Это очень сложный проект, и он может обнаружить, что это дело ему не по плечу.
When I accepted the position of chairman, I didn’t realize how much I was biting off.
When James registered for 18 units in his last semester at college, he bit off more than he could chew.
bite one's head off
To answer someone in great anger; answer furiously.
I'm sorry to tell you that I lost my job, but that's no reason to bite my head off!
blast off
To begin a rocket flight.
The astronaut will blast off into orbit at six o'clock.
To scold or protest violently.
The coach blasted off at the team for poor playing.