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A setback is a problem that knocks you backwards: it delays you, stops you for a while, or leaves you worse off than you were. A team loses a key player; rain causes a setback on a building site; an exam grade is a setback, not the end of the story.
A setback挫折 is a problem that knocks you backwards是一種把你往後推的問題: it delays you它讓你延誤, stops you for a while讓你停頓一陣子, or leaves you worse off than you were或讓你的處境比之前更糟。A team loses a key player比如球隊少了一個關鍵球員; rain causes a setback on a building site下雨讓工地進度受阻; an exam grade is a setback一次考試成績是個挫折, not the end of the story但不是故事的結局。
It is ordinary English, at home in news as well as everyday talk, and only a little formal.
It is ordinary English它是普通的英文, at home in news as well as everyday talk新聞和日常對話裡都自然會用, and only a little formal只是稍微正式一點。
It comes from the verb set back. That verb can also mean 'cost someone money' ('The repair set me back a month's pay'), which is close in spirit but not quite this noun.
It comes from the phrasal verb set back它源自片語動詞 set back。That verb can also mean 'cost someone money'這個片語動詞也可以指「花掉某人的錢」 ('The repair set me back a month's pay'像「這次維修花了我一個月的薪水」), which is close in spirit but not quite this noun意思上相近，但跟這個名詞不完全一樣。
Architects also use setback for the way a tall building steps in as it rises — a different, technical sense.
Architects also use setback建築師也用這個詞 for the way a tall building steps in as it rises來指一棟高樓往上蓋時逐層內縮的樣子 — a different, technical sense這是另一個比較專業的用法。
原始詞典資料7 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
setbacknoun/ˈsɛtbæk/
- 1
An obstacle, delay, disadvantage, or blow (an adverse event which slows down, or prevents progress towards a desired outcome).
- After some initial setbacks, the expedition went safely on its way.
- DUKAT: I blame no one but myself. I was indiscreet. I compromised myself and have been punished accordingly. If someone under my command had behaved so outrageously, I would do the same thing to him. Besides, I assure you, this is only a temporary setback. Everything I have lost, I will regain. It's only a matter of time.
- 2
Any adverse event, defeat, or impediment of progress.
- 3
The required distance between a structure and a road.
- 4
architectureA step-like recession in a wall.
- Setbacks were initially used for structural reasons, but now are often mandated by land use codes.
- 5
An offset to the temperature setting of a thermostat to cover a period when more or less heating is required than usual.
- Fuel savings from thermostat setbacks have long been accepted as fact, but little documentation existed to support it.
- 6
archaicA backset; a countercurrent; an eddy.
- 7
archaicA backset; a check; a repulse; a relapse.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。