Draw back/Fall back/Back off?

[sambistapt]

Hello amigos!

I Drew back/Fell back/Backed off as soon as I sighted a big unsmiling dog coming towards me.

Which of them must I employ in this case? Is there a subtle difference among them ?

Thanks,

Sam

[Neillythere]

As a Brit and mentor, but not a teacher, my thoughts would be, based on the OED:

AskOxford: back
back off draw back from confrontation
This suggests to me that you want to permanently avoid a confrontation

AskOxford: fall
fall back retreat
An army may wish to temporarily "fall back/retreat" to give them time to recover, regroup and launch a counter-attack.

Hope this helps

[proof.beh]

Originally Posted by sambistapt

Hello amigos!

I Drew back/Fell back/Backed off as soon as I sighted a big unsmiling dog coming towards me.

Which of them must I employ in this case? Is there a subtle difference among them ?

Thanks,

Sam

Back off (from someone or something)= Back away(from someone or something): 1- To move backward from a person or thing; To withdraw physically from someone or something 2- To begin to appear uninterested in someone or something.

Draw back: To pull back; To respond to begin to be pulled back!

Fall back: To move back from someone; to retreat from something!

So second choice is the best to be used in the blank!

I Drew back as soon as I sighted a big unsmiling dog coming towards me.

But with the others even that will be okay.

Cheers,
P

(Not a teacher)