Definition
To obtain somebody's permission to skip or cancel an event that one has previously arranged with them.
Origins
beg + off
In Context
- "I wonder if I can beg off going to the meeting that day, since it will take me an extra two hours out of my way."
- "That's an issue that I have not discussed with the legal people. I don't know what authority we have to prevent insurance companies from setting criteria for those people that they would insure. Whether that rests with us or with the Commissioner of Insurance, I don't know. I'm going to have to beg off that question."
Also Said As
- cry off