abandon abjure back down backpedal backwater beat a retreat beg off boggle chicken chicken out climb down crawfish out cry off deny depart from desert under fire disavow discard disclaim disengage disown draw back draw off drop out eat crow eat humble pie evacuate fall back falter forsake forswear funk funk out get cold feet give ground give place go back go back on jettison jilt leave leave behind leave flat lose courage maroon move back pull back pull out quit quit cold recant renege renounce repudiate resile retire retract retreat revoke run back say goodbye to scuttle skedaddle stand back stand down swallow take back take leave of throw over unsay vacate welsh withdraw