Unexpected problems or delays that prevent you from making progress toward a goal.
Compound word from 'set' and 'back.' Originally a literal architectural term for when a building's wall was pushed back from the building line. The metaphorical sense of 'temporary reversal' developed in the 1800s.
This word literally started as architecture jargon—when buildings had to 'set back' from the street—and then businesses started using it to mean any kind of reversal or delay. It's a perfect example of how practical, physical terms become emotional and abstract over time.
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