be set aback
(redirected from am set aback)be set aback
To be startled, astonished, shocked, or disconcerted. (A less common variant of "be taken aback.") All of us were a bit set aback to learn that John was moving to England next month. I must admit that I was set aback when I heard we weren't receiving our bonuses this year.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.