Valery, without BY

a taxi ride from the airport to the downtown will set you back by 50 pounds-
the british journalist's account of his travels

I'm sorry but that journalist needs an English lesson. Here's the Oxford dictionary definition with examples and not one instance of BY: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/set_someone%2Fsomething_back

Улий, как насчёт to hit... in the pocket?

Yep, we say that. Hit you where it hurts - right in the pocket.

Also, Valery, to SET SOMEONE BACK doesn't mean that it's a lot, it means the same as COST.

Я имела в виду, как насчёт hit in the pocket в значении бить по карману.

Да, я только импровизировал немного))) Hits you in the purse/pocket/checkbook/etc.

Ага, спасибо! А то я гадала - удалять или оставить😉

Импровизировал is about a repetitive action. Is this what you meant?

I meant progressive “I was improvising” is that incorrect?

+++Tatiana

🤓
Yes, it works for progressive too. The thing is, it's not normally used with немножко this way. You can say Когда я был ребёнком, я немножко импровизировал на саксофоне. But this is still about a repetitive action in the past. If you mean a one-time action you should go with я ПОимпровизировал/сЫмпровизировал немножко.
(Haha I had to check the spelling of the latter - wasn't sure about that Ы).

it isn't used

Aha, got it. In English, if you’re referring to your intent, you can use the progressive past. Wife: Why did you ask me if I wanted caviar at the party? You know I hate caviar. Husband: I was just kidding - I know you do.

We also use it when we talk about photographs: A: What were you doing with that huge woman in this picture. B: I was dancing with her.

👍

So when you clarified what you meant after my comment elaborating on the phrase “hits you in the pocket,” I explained what my intent was - I was just improvising.

👍This is even more interesting since EGE includes describing a photo as its part.

👍🏼😉

Спасибо за помощь)