turn back the clock

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turn back the clock (third-person singular simple present turns back the clock, present participle turning back the clock, simple past and past participle turned back the clock)

1. (figuratively, idiomatic) To return to a previous state.

   We had a terrible year so we agreed to turn back the clock and go on as if it hadn't happened.

• turn the clocks back

• go back in time

• turn the clock back