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wind back

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To make a tape or clock go backwards, or to imagine going back to an earlier time.

Literal meaning: To turn a wound (coiled) mechanism backward — fairly transparent for mechanical contexts.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To physically reverse a tape, film reel, or mechanical device by winding it in the backward direction.

"She wound the cassette back to the beginning of her favourite song."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To figuratively return to an earlier moment in time, often in memory or in storytelling.

"Wind back thirty years and the city looked completely different."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 neutral

To set a clock or watch to an earlier time, particularly when adjusting for time zone changes or daylight saving.

"Don't forget to wind your clocks back an hour tonight."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Used literally for cassette tapes, film reels, clocks, and car odometers. Figurative use ('wind back the clock') is common in speech. More common in British and Australian English. American English more often says 'rewind'.

Commonly used with

tape clock film odometer years memories

Forms

Base
wind back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
winds back
he/she/it
Past simple
winded back
yesterday
Past participle
winded back
have + pp
-ing form
winding back
continuous

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