stay back

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To remain (at work, school, organisation, country, etc.) after normal hours

   • Many of these students, in fact, do stay back and work in Singapore after their studies are over.
   • When parents are late, childcare workers have to stay back late to take care of the children.
   • Mr Como was quite displeased and he told me to stay back tomorrow and do it.
2. 2

   To keep one's distance from a place, often because of some danger.

   • 'Sir, you have to get back,' said a uniformed voice, an ambulance officer this time. 'We're asking everybody to stay back.' 'I live here,' he said. 'With my wife and my boy. Have you seen them?'
   • ‘No, no, no. You stay back there. I don’t want you anywhere near me.’
   • Other bystanders had noticed him and like Rizby, had kept their distance, but now they began to creep forward to peer at the body. ‘Stay back!’ Rizby yelled. ‘Back! All of you!’

The neighborhood