1 B2 idiomatic formal
To ask to be excused or released from an obligation, appointment, or commitment.
"He had planned to attend the conference but had to beg off at the last moment due to a family emergency."
beg off
B2 formal intransitive
To ask to be excused from an obligation, meeting, or engagement; to politely withdraw from something you had agreed to do.
In plain English
To politely ask to be let off from doing something you were supposed to do.
What does "beg off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To beg (ask humbly) to be let off from something.
Actually means
To politely ask to be let off from doing something you were supposed to do.
Usage tip
More common in American English. Has a slightly formal or old-fashioned ring. Implies that the person is apologetic about withdrawing. Followed optionally by 'of' + the obligation.
Words that pair with "beg off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
dinner meeting obligation commitment engagement event
How to conjugate "beg off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
beg off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
begs off
he/she/it
Past simple
beged off
yesterday
Past participle
beged off
have + pp
-ing form
beging off
continuous
Hear "beg off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "beg off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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