set back

To delay someone or something, or make progress more difficult.

• The rain set us back.
• A broken machine set the project back by a month.
• These delays have set back our plans to move.

How to use it: set someone/something back by an amount of time (The strike set construction back by two weeks.); set someone/something back (Her injury set her back just before the race.)

Similar words: delay, hold up, hinder

Opposites: advance

Common phrases: set back progress, set someone back, set something back

If something does this to you, it costs you a particular amount of money.

• That meal set me back fifty dollars.
• How much did your new bike set you back?
• A replacement roof could set us back thousands.

How to use it: set someone back an amount of money (The repairs set me back three hundred pounds.)

Similar words: cost

Common phrases: set someone back, set back thousands

To place something a distance away from a road, edge, or other line.

• The house is set back from the road.
• They set the fence back two metres.
• New buildings must be set back from the river.

How to use it: set something back from something (They set the new fence back from the road.); be set back from something (The house is set back from the street.)

Similar words: position away from

Common phrases: set something back, set back buildings

To move something backward or return it to an earlier position or time.

• We set the clocks back tonight.
• She set her watch back ten minutes.
• Have you set the kitchen clock back an hour?

How to use it: set something back an amount (Set your watch back one hour.)

Similar words: turn back, put back

Opposites: advance

Common phrases: set back clocks, set something back

To place something behind the surrounding surface or inside a space in a wall.

• The door is set back in the wall.
• They set the display back inside a deep frame.
• Each window was set back behind the stone surface.

How to use it: be set back in something (The statue was set back in a small niche.); be set back from something (The window is set back from the wall's outer surface.)

Similar words: recess

Common phrases: set something back, set back windows