What Does “Set sth back” Mean?
“Set sth back” means to delay progress or cause something to take longer than expected. It can also mean to cost a certain amount of money.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “set sth back” is commonly used in English to describe situations where progress is delayed or slowed down. For example, a problem might set a project back by several days. It can also refer to how much money something costs, such as “The new phone set me back $500.” Understanding the set sth back meaning helps learners use it correctly in different contexts, whether talking about time, money, or progress.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: set something back
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To delay progress or cost money
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Set sth back” is separable. You can place the object between “set” and “back,” or after “back.”
- set something back
- set back something
Example:
- The delay set the project back.
- The delay set back the project.
How to Use Set sth back?
Use “set sth back” when you want to talk about something causing a delay or costing money. It is often followed by a noun or pronoun that refers to the thing affected or the amount of money involved.
Examples:
- The storm set the construction back by two weeks.
- Buying the laptop set me back a lot of money.
Examples
Here are some sentences to help you understand how to use “set sth back” in a sentence:
- The broken machine set the factory back several days.
- The new regulations set the project back because of extra paperwork.
- The repairs set me back $300.
- Her illness set back her training schedule.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse “set sth back” with other phrasal verbs or place the object incorrectly.
- Incorrect: The delay set backted the project.
- Correct: The delay set the project back.
- Incorrect: It set backted me $100.
- Correct: It set me back $100.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “hold up” and “put off,” but they have different uses.
- Hold up: Usually means to delay something temporarily.
- Put off: Means to postpone or delay intentionally.
- Set back: Focuses on causing delay or costing money.
Common Collocations
Here are common objects used with “set sth back” and their meanings:
- Project: Delay in work or progress
- Plan: Delay in arrangements
- Schedule: Delay in timing
- Repairs: Money spent on fixing something
- Cost: Money required to buy or fix
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of set sth back:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “set sth back”:
Anna: The rain really set our gardening project back.
John: Yes, we lost a whole week of work.
Anna: And the new tools set me back quite a bit too.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “set sth back”:
- The heavy snow _______ the delivery by three days.
- Buying the new car _______ me $20,000.
- The unexpected problems _______ our plans.
FAQ
- What does “set sth back” mean? It means to delay progress or to cost money.
- Is “set sth back” separable? Yes, you can separate the verb and the particle with the object.
- Can “set sth back” be used for money? Yes, it often describes how much something costs.
- What is the difference between “set back” and “hold up”? “Set back” refers to delays or costs, while “hold up” means a temporary delay.
- Can I say “set backted”? No, the past tense is “set back.”
