beg off

beg + off

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beg off (third-person singular simple present begs off, present participle begging off, simple past and past participle begged off)

1. (idiomatic) To obtain somebody's permission to skip or cancel an event that one has previously arranged with them.

   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.

• cry off