Synset

make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
<verb.communication>   freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1

back away

back out

crawfish

crawfish out

pull back

pull in one's horns

retreat

withdraw

sample sentences

"We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"
"He backed out of his earlier promise"
"The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"