sit back
Britishverb
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Relax, as in Now that the work's finished, we can just sit back .
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Refrain from interfering or taking part, as in Mom and Dad just sat back and watched Meg try to decide whether or not she should tell on her friends . [Mid-1900s] Also see sit by .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Since she’s been active in the local hiking community, she said, “I sat back and watched every year people go up there and not return.”
From Los Angeles Times
Although I did manage to get a few questions in that evening, I still chuckle at the memory of myself, sitting back, legs extended with a note pad in hand taking notes!
From Los Angeles Times
"Cricket gave me some great moments, but I wasn't able to flourish, to sit back and enjoy the ride," says Aiken.
From BBC
"I don't think it's ever a case of sitting back and absorbing pressure," the Newcastle head coach said.
From BBC
She sat back down and waved the toe of her big sock around a few times.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
