get off someone's back

English

Alternative forms

• later variants off someone's case, get off someone's case

Verb

get off someone's back (third-person singular simple present gets off someone's back, present participle getting off someone's back, simple past got off someone's back, past participle (UK) got off someone's back or (US) gotten off someone's back)

1. (informal, transitive, intransitive) To cease pestering or criticizing someone, i.e. to leave them alone.
   • 2016, Daniel Gray, Saturday, 3pm: 50 Eternal Delights of Modern Football:

     Nothing gets an overly inquisitive auntie or an uncle with unpalatable political views off your back like a Boxing Day fixture.

See also

• on someone's ass