sit back: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    globalneutral
    • To recline or adopt a relaxed posture, often as a way of resting or taking a break.

    Examples

    Beta

    • After a long day, Tom just wanted to sit back and relax in his favorite armchair with a book.

      After a long day, Tom just wanted to sit back and relax in his favorite armchair with a book.

    • She sat back on the porch swing, enjoying the cool evening breeze and the sounds of the neighborhood.

      She sat back on the porch swing, enjoying the cool evening breeze and the sounds of the neighborhood.

    • The guests were encouraged to sit back and enjoy the movie while the popcorn was being served.

      The guests were encouraged to sit back and enjoy the movie while the popcorn was being served.

    • By the time the concert started, the crowd had already sat back comfortably, ready for the performance.

      By the time the concert started, the crowd had already sat back comfortably, ready for the performance.

  • 2.

    globalinformalneutral
    • To refrain from taking action or responsibility; to remain passive while others act or while events unfold.
    • To allow others to handle matters without personal involvement.

    Examples

    Beta

    • You can’t just sit back and expect the team to win without putting in effort yourself.

      You can’t just sit back and expect the team to win without putting in effort yourself.

    • She decided not to sit back while the project was failing and took charge of the turnaround strategy.

      She decided not to sit back while the project was failing and took charge of the turnaround strategy.

    • Why are we sitting back and letting others decide our future when we can actively participate?

      Why are we sitting back and letting others decide our future when we can actively participate?

  • 3.

    globalinformal
    • To enjoy the benefits, profits, or returns from an investment or arrangement while making little or no active effort.

    Examples

    Beta

    • After making the initial investment, they just sat back and watched their profits grow steadily over the years.

      After making the initial investment, they just sat back and watched their profits grow steadily over the years.

    • You can sit back and enjoy the dividends from your stocks without having to manage the company directly.

      You can sit back and enjoy the dividends from your stocks without having to manage the company directly.

    • He preferred to sit back and let the junior employees handle the daily operations while he focused on strategy.

      He preferred to sit back and let the junior employees handle the daily operations while he focused on strategy.

Examples:

  • EN: I can't just sit back and watch sister get bullied by that stinking ape.
    ES: ¿Acaso nos quedamos sin hacer nada solamente mirando que el maldito mono viola a mi hermana?
  • EN: Now that I've got my little pile tucked away I'm ready to sit back, take off my shoes and relax.
    ES: Ahora que tengo mis ahorros voy a sentarme, quitarme los zapatos y descansar.
  • EN: I can't sit back and see you get hurt.
    ES: No puedo sentarme y ver cómo te lastimas.
  • EN: You can sit back and look important... but the organization will run the city.
    ES: Puedes reclinarte y hacerte el importante... pero la organización gobernará la ciudad.
  • EN: I was told I should sit back... and allow the organization to run the city.
    ES: Me dijeron que me reclinara... y dejara que la organización llevara la ciudad.
  • EN: And you expect me to sit back and look pretty, say nothing and do nothing while you divorce me?
    ES: ¿Esperas que lo acepte, que ni diga ni haga nada mientras te divorcias de mí?
  • EN: We buy you out with corporation stock... and you sit back and look pretty for the rest of your days.
    ES: Te compramos tu parte con acciones... y tú te sientas sin hacer nada el resto de tu vida.
  • EN: You can buy up half of New York, and all you have to do is sit back and draw dividends.
    ES: Puedes comprar la mitad de N.Y., y sólo tienes que percibir dividendos.
  • EN: I sit back and wait.
    ES: simplemente espero.
  • EN: - Meanwhile, we sit back and wind up broke.
    ES: Entretanto, nos sentamos y nos quebramos.
  • EN: Before it, I thought my work was done. I could sit back and dream a little.
    ES: Antes de eso, creí que mi labor había terminado, que podía soñar.
  • EN: Why don't you sit back on the couch?
    ES: ¿Por qué no se sienta en el sofá?
  • EN: It was put there to let Talcott know we ain't going to sit back no longer.
    ES: Lo pusieron allí para hacerle ver a Talcott que no nos quedaremos sentados más tiempo.
  • EN: Just sit back and relax.
    ES: Quietecito.
  • EN: They sit back ancl they watch organised crime, eat way at the very foundations of their own government.
    ES: Se paran con los brazos cruzados viendo al crimen organizado destruir los cimientos de su gobierno.
  • EN: I can't just sit back and watch sister get bullied by that stinking ape.
    ES: ¿Acaso nos quedamos sin hacer nada solamente mirando que el maldito mono viola a mi hermana?
  • EN: Now that I've got my little pile tucked away I'm ready to sit back, take off my shoes and relax.
    ES: Ahora que tengo mis ahorros voy a sentarme, quitarme los zapatos y descansar.
  • EN: I can't sit back and see you get hurt.
    ES: No puedo sentarme y ver cómo te lastimas.
  • EN: You can sit back and look important... but the organization will run the city.
    ES: Puedes reclinarte y hacerte el importante... pero la organización gobernará la ciudad.
  • EN: I was told I should sit back... and allow the organization to run the city.
    ES: Me dijeron que me reclinara... y dejara que la organización llevara la ciudad.
  • EN: And you expect me to sit back and look pretty, say nothing and do nothing while you divorce me?
    ES: ¿Esperas que lo acepte, que ni diga ni haga nada mientras te divorcias de mí?
  • EN: We buy you out with corporation stock... and you sit back and look pretty for the rest of your days.
    ES: Te compramos tu parte con acciones... y tú te sientas sin hacer nada el resto de tu vida.
  • EN: You can buy up half of New York, and all you have to do is sit back and draw dividends.
    ES: Puedes comprar la mitad de N.Y., y sólo tienes que percibir dividendos.
  • EN: I sit back and wait.
    ES: simplemente espero.
  • EN: - Meanwhile, we sit back and wind up broke.
    ES: Entretanto, nos sentamos y nos quebramos.
  • EN: Before it, I thought my work was done. I could sit back and dream a little.
    ES: Antes de eso, creí que mi labor había terminado, que podía soñar.
  • EN: Why don't you sit back on the couch?
    ES: ¿Por qué no se sienta en el sofá?
  • EN: It was put there to let Talcott know we ain't going to sit back no longer.
    ES: Lo pusieron allí para hacerle ver a Talcott que no nos quedaremos sentados más tiempo.
  • EN: Just sit back and relax.
    ES: Quietecito.
  • EN: They sit back ancl they watch organised crime, eat way at the very foundations of their own government.
    ES: Se paran con los brazos cruzados viendo al crimen organizado destruir los cimientos de su gobierno.

Related Idioms

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

sit back: Meaning, Examples & Usage (English) | Idiomator