Forum: ell.stackexchange.com
Tags: <word-usage>
Title: What is the opposite of saying "Standing by one's word/promise"?
Question: I want a word or an expression which means  not standing by  or  sticking with one's promise , in the context of this expression:   First he promised me something but later he refused it; he should try to stand by his word.

Answers:
sents: text: As Wendi and Matt have indicated, break is probably the most common word to use when describing an unkept promise.
text: If you wanted an alternative, though, you might consider renege : Macmillan defines this verb as: to decide not to do something that you promised to do American Heritage uses the definition: to fail to carry out a promise or commitment Here are a few examples of the word being used in contemporary news stories: The stakeholders, who were in a one-day stakeholders workshop, said if the government and district assembly do not take up construction of roads in the area particularly commercial roads as a priority, they would renege in fulfilling their task obligation to the state.
text: It’s all about investing in jobs — and by the way, if that company decided to renege on its promises, it would have to return a portion of the state money.
text: They paid it with the promise that the subsidies would help them recoup that money.
text: Now Pence wants to renege on that deal.
text: It isn’t fair, and it shouldn’t happen.
text: It's pronounced /rɪˈnɛɡ/ or
text: /rɪˈnɪɡ/
text: in American English, with a ‘short’ vowel in the stressed syllable; in British English it appears to be pronounced with a ‘long’ vowel, /rɪˈneɪg/ or /rɪˈniːɡ/.
text: (Pronunciation information courtesy of StoneyB).
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/113/J.R.
score: 9
sents: text: I believe the expression you're looking for is "broke his word / broke his promise".
text: In keeping with your example sentence: First he promised me something but later on he refused; he broke his word.
text: or First he promised me something but later on he refused; he broke his promise to me.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/289/WendiKidd
score: 6
sents: text: When you say that one has "stood by their word", you've implied that they've fulfilled a specific obligation or promise they made by virtue of their character.
text: However, to say that one "stands by their word" it means that, in general, they can be relied upon to fulfill promises when they're made.
text: Others have addressed the negation of the first case, that is that one "breaks their word" or "breaks promises".
text: However, if one cannot be relied upon and makes promises that they may or may not fulfill, you can say that they "waffle" or "vacillate", or that they're "wafflers".
text: These words are commonly used to describe politicians who make hollow promises to win the favor of supporters.
text: A "waffler" may or may not fulfill promises they've made.
text: Their making such a promise doesn't indicate any incremental degree of faith that they will follow up with action.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/523/AdamO
score: 5
sents: text: The most common expression in my experience is to "keep" (meaning to stand by one's word) or "break" a promise (meaning the opposite), like so: I like Dave.
text: Dave always keeps his promises
text: Joe promised to finish the document by 5pm, but he broke his promise
text: I never break my promises
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/307/Matt
score: 4
sents: text: In addition to some of the other answers, there are some idiomatic ways of saying this: If the speaker warned in advance that they would not be able to complete the deal, they are said to have withdrawn it or taken it back "
text: I know
text: I promised I'd help you move house on Sunday, but I'm going to have to take that back, sorry."
text: Today the government withdrew their promise to deliver a surplus.
text: However if there was no warning given, or if the person giving the promise had no reasonable excuse, you can say:
text: She promised me X, but then she went back on it
text: We made a deal
text: but then he welshed on it.
text: Note that the origin of this is unknown - it is not a known racial slur (against Welsh people) as "Indian giver" is against American First Nation people.
text: He fell through on his promise Fell through can also be applied the arrangements that have failed themselves, "the contract fell through".
text: Specifically with contractual or legal promises you can use default : Our buyer in the UK defaulted on our contract.
text: Mike defaulted on his credit card.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/454/jsj
score: 4

Summary of the answers:
"Breaking your word" (or promise) is the most commonly used phrase. "Renege" is also used.
The most common way of expressing this is 'break'. 'Renege' and 'withdraw' are possible alternatives.