Expressions with the word set

Here is a list of phrasal verbs with set. Each expression is followed by its meaning. Example sentences are also given.

Set about

To set about something is to start doing something with determination.

• He immediately set about organizing the program.

Set someone apart

If a particular quality sets you apart, it makes you seem superior.

• Quality is what sets our products apart.

Set something aside

To set something aside is to annul a legal decision.

• The high court set aside the ruling of the lower court.

Set in

If something sets in, it begins and seems likely to continue.

• Monsoon has set in.
• Cold weather has set in.

Set off / set out

To set off or set out is to begin a journey.

• We set off in the morning.

Set something off

To set something off is to cause an alarm or a bomb to go off.

Set something forth

To set something forth is to describe it in writing or speech.

• In his speech on terrorism, he set forth his views at length.

Set on

To set on is to attack violently.

• The robbers set on the helpless travelers.

Set up

To set up is to establish a business or other organization.

• I am raising money to set up a business.

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Look at the examples of following phrasal verbs based on set:
_ You should set aside some money for a rainy day. (reserve v- de danh, du tru)
_ He tried to set aside his dislike of his daughter’s fiancé (vị hôn phu). (ignore — not think about)
_ We should set off before dawn to get there on time. (begin a journey)
_ The redundancies set off strikes throughout the area. (cause)
_ The bank helps people wanting to set up business. (establish)
_ He set out to climb Everest. (begin work with a particular aim in mind)

Here are some more expressions with set:
_ He has set his heart/sights on becoming a ballet dancer. (longs to become (an important aim/goal))
_ They sat up till the small hours setting the world to rights. (discussing important problems)
_ Did someone set fire to the house deliberately? (put a match to)
_ The house was set on fire by a match thrown onto some old newspapers. (ignited v- bắt lửa)
_ John had never set foot in Italy before. (been to)
_ Jill is very set in her ways. (fixed in her habits)
_ Try to set a good example. (be a good example for others)

_ They have recently set up (= established) a committee on teenage smoking.
_ We try to set aside (= reserve) some money for our holiday every week.
_ Set aside (= ignore) all your negative feelings and listen with an open mind.
_ If we hadn’t set off (hadn’t left home) so late, we would have arrived on time.
_ The government’s unpopular proposals set off (caused) a wave of protests (phai doi).

Here are some of the many phrasal verbs with put:
_ He put his own name forward to the commitee. (propose v- de xuat)
_ He’s good at putting his ideas across. (communicate to others)
_ Please put away all your toys at once. (tidy v- lam gon gang)
_ He is always putting her down. (make someone look small)
_ We had central heating put in last year. (install)
_ I’m going to put in an application for that job. (submit v- de trinh)
_ Every now and then she would put in a remark. (interject v- xen S.T vao)
_ They’ve put off making their decision for another week. (postpone)
_ Her sniffing really puts me off my dinner. (discourage v- lam chan nan)
_ The school is putting Hamlet on next year. (present)
_ He’s good at putting on all sorts of accents. (pretend (v- gia vo) to have)
_ The fireman quickly put out the fire. (extinguish v- dap tat)
_ Please don’t let me put you out. (inconvenience)
_ You’re not allowed to put up posters here. (fix)
_ I can put you up for the weekend. (give accommodation to)
_ The government is sure to put up taxes soon. (raise)
_ How do you put up with such rudeness? (tolerate v- tha thu, khoan dung)

Notice also the following common expressions with put:
_ to put your foot down: to be firm about something.
_ to put all your eggs in one basket: to risk all you have on a single venture.
_ to put your mind to: to direct all your thoughts towards
_ to put two and two together: to draw an obvious (adj- ro rang) conclusion.
_ to put something in a nutshell: to state something accurately and in a few words only.
_ to put someone’s back up: to irritate someone
_ a put-up job: something arranged to give a false impression.

put out a bonfire/ your host/ the rubbish.
put foward an idea/ a proposal/ a suggestion
put off a football match/ an appointment/ customers
put across your feelings/ ideas/ opinions
put up an umbrella/ prices/ a picture
put on a concert/ a limp/ clothes
put away papers/ books/ files
put up with someone’s behaviour/ bad manners/ temper.

Here is a list of idiomatic expressions using the word set.

Set the stage for something

To set the stage for something is to create the right conditions in which something can happen.

The government rejected the demands of the transport union and that set the stage for an indefinite strike.

Set the standard

To set the standard is to do something so well that others will have to try hard to achieve similar results.

You cannot set the standard unless you know what you really want to achieve.

Set the table

To set the table is to put the plates, forks, knives etc., on the table. The expression ‘lay the table’ has very similar meanings.

Set someone to work

To set someone to work is to make them work for you.

As soon as I said that I was free, he set me to work.

Set someone to work doing something

She set the boy to work washing the windows.

Set to work

To set to work is to start working with lots of enthusiasm.

We have fixed the roof; now we will set to work on the kitchen.

The expression set to work can be followed by an –ing form or a to-infinitive.

After fixing the roof, we set to work (on) painting the walls.

After fixing the roof, we set to work to paint the walls.