take a setback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take a setback" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "take a step back." You can use it when advising someone to pause and reassess a situation or their approach to a problem.
Example: "When faced with challenges, it's often helpful to take a step back and evaluate your options."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Sports

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It would take a setback for the global economy that few economists expected, to trigger a second leg to the downturn.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Hill said: "He took a setback and made a comeback.

The New York Times - Sports

Parks and Di Bernardo traded penalties to take the score to 16-16 but with 72 minutes gone Connacht's hopes took a setback when they succumbed to pressure at the scrum and conceded a converted penalty try.

BBC

Rather than take a business setback in stride, they'll hunt for scapegoats, laying blame on everyone but themselves (a strategy that rarely teaches them how to avoid future setbacks).

Huffington Post

Rebuilding the country will take a long time, and setbacks are inevitable, but we must not give up.

The Guardian

Science programs take a hit and suffer setbacks with these frequent changes, says department secretary T. Ramasami.

Science Magazine

We're progressing in small steps and taking a few setbacks.

BBC

Mark Cosgrove's reconstructed team has shown more promise this season (they could hardly fail to do that after all) but this setback may take a bit of getting over – the captain himself should aim to lead by example, scoring some much needed runs to end an uncharacteristic lean spell.

The Guardian - Sport

Here are some things you can do in order to sleep better and position yourself against an inevitable setback: First take a deep breath and jettison your speculative stocks, regardless of how many analysts' recommendation lists they top.

Forbes

On Sunday, Chuck Schumer's apparent reluctance to say whether he would vote for him was taken as a setback.

The New Yorker

Today's carnage among Internet stocks was triggered by profit taking and a setback for America Online aol as spoiled investors fretted over the Internet service provider's earnings.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing negative outcomes or delays, use more grammatically accepted alternatives like "experience a setback" or "encounter a difficulty" to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "take a setback" is universally accepted. While it might appear in some informal contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for established alternatives in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a setback" functions as a verbal phrase where 'take' acts as a verb attempting to describe the act of experiencing or dealing with a negative event or reversal. Ludwig indicates that this phrasing is not considered correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sports

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take a setback" is flagged by Ludwig as grammatically incorrect, suggesting that while it might appear in some contexts, it doesn't align with standard English usage. Its purpose is to describe encountering and dealing with a negative event, and it's found mainly in neutral registers like news and media. Given its questionable grammatical status, it's advisable to opt for more accepted alternatives like "experience a setback" or "suffer a setback" to ensure clarity and credibility in both formal and informal communication. Always consider the intended audience and context to ensure the most appropriate phrasing is used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffer a reversal

This phrase uses 'reversal', highlighting a change to an opposite direction or state, emphasizing the change in fortune or progress.

encounter a difficulty

This alternative replaces the more specific 'setback' with a broader term 'difficulty', indicating a less severe negative impact.

experience a hitch

This alternative uses 'hitch', indicating a temporary and usually minor problem or delay.

absorb a blow

This alternative uses 'blow' to indicate a sudden shock or disappointment, emphasizing the impact of the setback.

face a problem

This alternative uses 'problem' instead of 'setback', suggesting a challenge needing resolution, but it does not specifically imply regression.

deal with a reverse

This alternative phrase describes handling something that has been turned in the opposite direction. The original means experiencing and adapting to an unfortunate occurrence.

meet with adversity

This alternative introduces a more formal and intense concept of 'adversity', implying significant challenges or hardship.

navigate an obstacle

The alternative suggests maneuvering around something blocking progress, it focuses on the response to a challenge rather than the challenge itself.

undergo a hindrance

This alternative replaces the action of taking with 'undergo' and 'hindrance' to indicate a form of obstruction and it is more passive.

weather a storm

This metaphoric alternative refers to successfully overcoming a difficult period or situation, implying resilience.

FAQs

Is "take a setback" grammatically correct?

According to standard English grammar, the phrase "take a setback" is generally considered incorrect. It's better to use phrases like "experience a setback" or "suffer a setback".

What is a more appropriate way to express "take a setback"?

You can use alternatives such as "experience a setback", "suffer a setback", or "encounter a difficulty" depending on the context.

What does it mean to "experience a setback"?

To "experience a setback" means to encounter a temporary delay, reversal, or problem in progress toward a goal. It implies facing an obstacle that hinders advancement.

Can "take a setback" be used in informal conversation?

While it might be used in some informal contexts, it's advisable to avoid "take a setback" even in conversation, as it's not grammatically sound. Using correct alternatives maintains clarity and effective communication.