BACK OUT

[anglychanin.livejournal.com]

How to translate "Mr. Smith backed out of the deal with Mr .Jones"  ?

The best the dictionary can do is уклониться but it doesn't feel right.

To be clear : Mr Smith and Mr Jones had an agreement to do something. Then later Mr Smith decided he agreement didn't suit him, so he "backed out" meaning he refused to go on with the agreement.

Comments

[risch.livejournal.com]

пойти на попятную

[g-kar.livejournal.com]

"Мистер Смит отказался от сделки, ранее заключенной с мистером Джонсом"?

[aromanov.livejournal.com]

уклониться is okay for me. Мистер Смит уклонился от сделки с мистером Джонсом. but уклонился has some negative connotation. it means that Mr. Smith did that kinda secretly, not clearly honest.

[aromanov.livejournal.com]

отказался is refused. if the deal was done отказался is even better. but if not, уклонился is better.

[apl.livejournal.com]

Maybe расторгнуть. Мистер Смит расторг (or расторгнул, which is equivalent version) сделку, расторг договорённость. But this sounds more official.

[kettariec.livejournal.com]

I guess that in this case we have отказался out of context.

[malim-praedari.livejournal.com]

To me, "уклони́лся" sounds like he avoided striking a deal altogether, rather than entering into it and then backing out.

I would say "Ми́стер Смит пошёл на попя́тную в сде́лке с ми́стером Джо́нсом."

[merry1978.livejournal.com]

Уклониться от сделки means that smb. decided not to set up an agreement. If Jones made an offer, and Smith declined it, it is okay.

If the deal has been already set up though, this verb is totally wrong. In this case you can уклониться от выполнения сделки (from the fulfillment), but not from the deal itself.

The most accurate Russian expression would be "пойти на попятный":

Mr. Smith backed out of the deal with Mr .Jones = Смит заключил сделку с Джонсом, а потом пошел на попятный.

Расторгнуть means to revoke, to break oficially. Отказаться means to refuse, it is much less specific.

BACKING OUT

[anglychanin.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot everyone

[aromanov.livejournal.com]

I still think пойти на попятную is too colloquial in this case.

[merindada.livejournal.com]

Maybe, he just "передумал совершать сделку"?

[alamar.livejournal.com]

Also "дал задний ход". Much less formal, but still pretty widespread, I think.