English

Noun

fadeaway ‎(plural fadeaways)

1. An instance of fading away, of diminishing in proximity or intensity.
   • 2014 May 11, Ivan Hewett, “Piano Man: a Life of John Ogdon by Charles Beauclerk, review: A new biography of the great British pianist whose own genius destroyed him [print version: A colossus off-key, 10 May 2014, p. R27]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review):

     In his final years he [John Ogdon] gave an interview to an American journalist who noticed that "his handshake is a boneless fadeaway["].

2. (basketball) a jump shot made while jumping backwards, away from the basket. The goal is to create space between the shooter and the defender, making it much harder to block.
   • 2009 February 3, Howard Beck, “Bryant Puts on a Show, Setting Garden Records”, in New York Times:

     He taunted the Knicks instead with hanging jumpers, impossible fadeaways and layups in traffic.

3. (slang) Method of ending the personal relationship by stopping any contact with the other party and not providing an explanation

   Why some people choose to do the infamous "fadeaway" instead of a clean break?