What Does “Set sb back” Mean?
“Set sb back” means to cost someone a particular amount of money or to delay progress. It is often used when describing expenses or obstacles.
Introduction
The phrase “Set sb back” is a common English phrasal verb used mainly in financial or time-related contexts. The Set sb back meaning usually refers to how much money something costs or how much delay it causes. It is useful in everyday conversations when discussing purchases, repairs, or unexpected expenses. Knowing how to use this phrasal verb will help you sound more natural and clear when talking about costs or setbacks.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Set somebody back
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To cost someone money or delay progress
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Set sb back” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (someone) between “set” and “back” or after the entire phrase.
- Set someone back + amount (money/time)
- Set back someone + amount (less common)
Examples:
- This repair will set you back $200.
- This repair will set back you $200. (less common)
How to Use Set sb back?
Use “Set sb back” when talking about the cost of something or how much time or effort it takes. It often refers to unexpected expenses or delays. This phrase is usually followed by an amount of money or a period of time.
Examples:
- The car repairs set me back a lot of money.
- Buying new furniture set us back more than expected.
- The project delay set the company back two weeks.
Examples
When you buy something expensive or face a delay, you can use “Set sb back” to describe the cost or setback.
- Fixing the broken window set me back $150.
- The holiday trip set us back quite a bit financially.
- Replacing the computer parts set him back several hundred dollars.
- The unexpected delay set the team back by three days.
- The new regulations set the company back in its plans.
Here is “Set sb back” in a sentence:
“The car accident set me back thousands of dollars.”
Common Mistakes
Beginners sometimes mix “Set sb back” with similar phrases or misuse the object placement.
- Incorrect: The new phone set back me $800.
- Correct: The new phone set me back $800.
- Incorrect: The delay set back us two days.
- Correct: The delay set us back two days.
Remember, the object usually comes directly after “set.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “cost sb” and “hold sb back.”
- Cost sb: Means the price or expense of something. “Set sb back” is more informal and often used for larger sums.
- Hold sb back: Means to delay or prevent progress but does not refer to money.
Use “set sb back” when emphasizing the cost or delay caused by something.
Common Collocations
You will often hear “set sb back” with words related to money and time.
- Set sb back + amount of money: e.g., $100, £50, thousands of dollars
- Set sb back + period of time: e.g., two weeks, several days
- Set sb back + cost/expense: e.g., repair, purchase, trip
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of set sb back:
Real-life Dialogue
Imagine two friends discussing the cost of a car repair.
Anna: How much did the car repair set you back?
Ben: It set me back about $500. It was more expensive than I thought.
Anna: Ouch! That’s a lot. Did it take long to fix?
Ben: Yeah, it set me back two weeks before I could use it again.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “set sb back”:
- The new phone __________ me $700.
- The storm __________ the construction project by three days.
- Buying a new laptop can __________ you quite a bit.
- The unexpected fee __________ us more than we expected.
FAQ
- Q: What does “Set sb back” mean?
A: It means to cost someone money or delay progress.
- Q: Is “Set sb back” formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal but commonly used in everyday speech.
- Q: Can I use “Set sb back” for time delays?
A: Yes, it can refer to both money and time setbacks.
- Q: How do I use “Set sb back” in a sentence?
A: Place the person after “set,” followed by “back” and the amount or time.
- Q: What are common mistakes with “Set sb back”?
A: Incorrect object placement and confusing it with similar phrases.
