to back up

[dilodi83]

- She said I couldn't park over there and I was obliged to back the car up.

In this sentence the meaning of "to back up" is, if I am correct, to shift the car by going backwards...is it correct?

Now, my question is this: is it possible to use "to back up" with a figurative meaning, such for istance in this sort of sentece:

- She had made up her mind to go to the party but suddenly she backed her idea/her decision up. (what I want to mean is "to retrace one's steps - "to change one's mind").

[bhaisahab]

- She said I couldn't park over there and I was obliged to back the car up.

In this sentence the meaning of "to back up" is, if I am correct, to shift the car by going backwards...is it correct? Yes.

Now, my question is this: is it possible to use "to back up" with a figurative meaning, such for instance in this sort of sentece:

- She had made up her mind to go to the party but suddenly she backed her idea/her decision up. (what I want to mean is "to retrace one's steps - "to change one's mind"). No, the phrasal verb "to back up" has several possible meanings depending on the context. "Backing up" a car, truck etc. is to do with movement, you can't "back up" your mind. You can, however, "back up" the information on the hard drive on your computer. In this case "back up" means to make an emergency copy.

Bhai.

[SoothingDave]

In this case, to "back up" an idea means to support an idea, with evidence or arguments in its favor.

[tedtmc]

She had made up her mind to go to the party but suddenly she backed her idea/her decision up backed off.

You can use 'back off' which means to retreat or withdraw.

not a teacher

[bhaisahab]

She had made up her mind to go to the party but suddenly she backed her idea/her decision up backed off.

You can use 'back off' which means to retreat or withdraw.

not a teacher

I wouldn't use "backed off" to talk about a party, we "back off" from some sort of confrontation. She might "back out".

[tedtmc]

I wouldn't use "backed off" to talk about a party, we "back off" from some sort of confrontation. She might "back out".

Yes, back out of a party (which I mistook for back off).