set back 1. 把(钟、表)的指针往回拨 set back(the hands of) the watch one hour 把表的指针拨回一小时 2. 推迟；耽搁；阻碍 The bad weather will set back our building plans. 恶劣的天气将推迟我们的营造计划。 All his efforts were set back. 他的一切努力都受到了挫折。 3. [常用被动语态] 使(建筑物等)位于不突出处 a white house set far back from the road 远离公路的一幢白房子 4. 〈口〉使花费 The legal costs of the case set him back ￡10,000. 这场官司花了他1万镑。