He set out in football at 15 - Hewentinfootballin15 years
2) to exhibit (show off)
Our best clothes samples are set out in the shop windowsourthe bestclothesexhibitedinshop windows
3) serve (food)
What hours do you set business lunch out? - ATwhat kindwatchatyouservedbusinessdinner?
4) equip, supply (hike)
The Russian Geographic Society sets out regular scientific expeditions to the Siberia - RussiangeographicalsocietyregularlyequipsscientificexpeditionsinSiberia
5) decorate
The red scarf sets her out – Redscarfhertoface
6) intend (do)
synonym set off
Setting outto take the next step, he didn’t even imagine anything like that – getting readytonextstep, heevennotrepresentednothingsimilar
7) act (against the enemy)
to set outagainst enemy troops is sometimes the safest way - Starthikeon thethe enemy himself is sometimes the most saving decision
synonyms found, constitute
Setting up greenhouseshas become his job - Constructiongreenhousesbecamehiswork
2) establish; found, open (enterprise)
synonyms found, originate, create, establish, produce
When was the university set up? - Whenopeneduniversity?
3) to help (someone) get settled
Veryfewprivatecompanieshaveprogramstosetyoungspecialistfamiliesup – It is rare for a private company to have a raise program for accommodating the families of young professionals
4) prepare, plan
Such events need to be set up beforehand - SuchEventsnecessarypreparein advance
5) cause (something); to cause a pain)
doctor,whatsetsupmyallergy? - Doctor, what causes me allergies?
6) vernacular to heal, put (someone) on their feet
The med staff promised to set him up in a month – Medshtabpromisedreturnhisperformancethroughmonth
7) raise (shout)
I can't stand kids setting up a howl - Notendure, whenchildrenare planningroar
8) impersonate (for someone)
Shesetsherselfupbetterthanshereallyis - She makes herself too good a girl
9) sports to reach (heights), set (record)
The record set up 7 years ago is still unbeaten – Record7 year oldprescriptionallyetnotbeaten
10) train
The boxer hasn't been set up for too long – Boxernottrainedtoo muchfor a long time
11) vernacular substitute, let down (someone)
Somebastardhassetmeup - Some scoundrel set me up
12) vernacular adjust
The 2coachessettheirmatchup – Two coaches had a match-fixing match
13) vernacular pour (booze)
Barman, set up a soda whiskey here - Bartender, carbonatedwhiskey!
14) American vernacular fight
What set me up was her beauty - Her beauty just struck me
Remember that the verb set is wrong. All three of its forms (forms of the present and past tenses, as well as the past participle) coincide in form and look like set. In company with various prepositions phrasal verb set can express the following actions:
- Set about
- take steps (in relation to something), start something, spread (rumour), take up something; start a fight, strike.
I came back home and immediately set about cleaning the house. I returned home and immediately started cleaning.
She setsabout her work vigorously. She is determined to get to work.
We set about each other at once. “We immediately started fighting.
- set apart
/ aside
- allocate, save (money), save, divert (for something), discard (feelings); to separate (fighting); annul, cancel, exclude, abolish, disregard; be different from the rest.
She will set the magazines apart for you. She will put these magazines aside for you.
Yesterday I visited emergency station to have my arm stitched. One of the dogs bit me when I was trying to set them apart.- Yesterday I was at the ambulance station, they sewed up a wound on my arm. One of the dogs bit me when I tried to separate them.
The room in the hotel set apart for us was large and beautiful. The hotel room assigned to us was spacious and beautiful.
Why did they set all our offers aside? Why did they turn down all our offers?
The prisoner hopes that the Supreme Court will set aside his sentence. The prisoner hopes that the Supreme Court will overturn his sentence.
This was the day set aside for his business trip. - His business trip was scheduled for this day.
- Set back
- push back, translate (clock hands back), turn (back the wheel of history), slow down, throw back, cause damage (financial position); stop (movement), hinder; put deep (of something).
Tomorrow we'll have to set back the clock. Don't forget about it. Tomorrow we will need to set the clock back an hour. Do not forget about it.
Is there a building set back from the road? “Is there a building off the road here?”
ambulatory medical care set him back a few pounds. - Outpatient treatment cost him a penny.
The heavy traffic set us back about half an hour. Due to heavy traffic, we were delayed for half an hour.
The opening of a new museum has been set back by a few weeks. The opening of the new museum has been postponed for several weeks.
- Set by
- save, save (money); respect, appreciate.
She regularly set by ten pounds a week. She regularly put off ten pounds a week.
My name was much set by in former days. “In the past, I was very much appreciated.
- set down
- put, put, put; drop off at a stop; state, write down (anywhere); attribute to someone (something).
Would you mind me settingyoudown at your door? “Do you mind if I take you home?”
He setmedown for fifty. He thought I was fifty years old.
Don't forget tosetdown her name and address. Don't forget to write down her name and address.
All their claims are set down in this document. – All their requirements are stated in this document.
Can you set down your bag? – Can you put your bag down?
- Set forth
- express, publish; to go on a trip); lay out, exhibit (show off); explain, print (literary works).
The new books were set forth for all to see. The new books were put on public display.
An hour later my mother set forth. Mom left an hour later.
My colleague has set forth her ideas. My colleague presented her ideas.
The President set forth his plans in a television talk. - The President outlined his plans in a TV show.
This year we are going t o set forth on a journey. This year we are going to travel.
- Set in
- expose, sew in (sleeve, insert), advance, establish (about the season, weather), begin, rise (about rain, wind, storm).
A thaw has set in.- The thaw has begun.
Autumn is setting in. - Autumn is coming.
Disappointment seems to have set in among the team. “The team seems to be getting frustrated.
This sewing machine will help you to set in a sleeve. This sewing machine will help you to sew the sleeve.
- set off
- launch, launch (rocket), call (protests), emphasize, win (look good); reimburse, compensate, balance profits and losses; encourage someone to do something; go, go, go.
They had to set off a rocket. They had to launch a rocket.
terrorists set off a bomb in the plane. The terrorists set off a bomb on the plane.
I bought a new dress set off with silver braid. I bought a new dress trimmed with silver braid.
There are two ways for you to set off this debt. “There are two ways you can repay this debt.
The dollar's decline has set off a wave of protests. - The fall of the dollar caused a wave of protests.
The story set us off smiling. This story made us smile.
They set off in pursuit. - They went after him.
What time are you setting off tomorrow afternoon? - What time are you leaving tomorrow afternoon?
- set out
- to be placed, put on display; state, go, go, go, fly out (by plane); think, intend.
We set out for Moscow. - We went to Moscow.
Lunch for five was set out in the small room. Dinner for five was served in a small room.
He set out his reasons for the way he behaved there. - He stated his reasons that prompted him to behave like that there.
He set out to write a history of civilization. He intended to write the history of civilization.
- Set to
- to be accepted, to take energetically for something; to grapple, to seize; to engage in a fight, a fight; start doing something, intend to do something.
He was set to enter the market. He planned to enter the market.
I set myself to study English. - I began to study English hard.
Why did they set to fighting? Why did they start fighting?
- set up
- establish (record), organize (committee); establish, open, found (business); portray someone, unreasonably consider yourself someone, provide for; raise a cry, put on your feet, recover from an illness; make claims, develop a theory; help someone get settled, etc. (more values)
A monument was set up in her honor. A monument was erected in her honor.
We set up a new record during the Olympic Games. We have set a new record at the Olympic Games.
They set up house together. - They began to live together.
My dream is to set up a shop of lady's wear. My dream is to open a women's clothing store.
Why did she set herself up to be a director? "Why is she pretending to be the director?"
A holiday will set you up. Rest will put you on your feet.
my neighbor set up as a pharmacist. My neighbor opened a pharmacy.
They set up a committee to discuss all urgent problems. - They organized a committee to discuss all pressing issues.
All new families should set up their own traditions. All new families need to establish their own traditions.
I need someone to set up in the business. I need someone to help me start my own business.
The portrait was set up on the stage. - The portrait was installed on the stage.
They have set up a charity organization for handicapped children. They started a charity organization to help disabled children.
Separately, it is worth considering the phrasal verb set and learn the meanings in combination with prepositions. It belongs to the group of irregular verbs, while in the present and past tenses, as well as in the Infinitive form, the spelling remains unchanged. For a faster learning of spoken English, you need to familiarize yourself with idioms that contain the verb to set.
Translation of a phrasal verb in combination with different prepositions
In the initial form, the verb set has several meanings: set, set, install, grab, run. In a separate table, consider the use of the phrasal verb set up .
Table 1.
| set up (disambiguation) | Examples |
| Mean | She set out to write a chronology of this day. (She intended to write down the chronology of the day.) |
| Impersonate someone | he sets himself up better, than he really is.(He tries to make himself look better than he really is) |
| Put on your feet | He promised to set him up in a week. (He promised to get him back on his feet in a week.) |
| plan, prepare | The report needs to be set up beforehand. (The report should have been prepared in advance.) |
| establish, establish | When was the institute set up? (When was this institute founded?) |
| install, raise | Setting up hut has become his hobby. (The construction of huts became his hobby.) |
| to cause pain, cause (disease) | Pollen sets up my allergy. (Flower pollen makes me allergic.) |
Phrasal verb Set with other prepositions and adverbs:
- set out – intend to do, state (in writing), set off (on a journey). She set out to write a chronology of this day. (She intended to write down the chronology of the day.)
- Set aside - reject, leave (time), postpone (decision)
- Set apart - postpone, divide. Albert will set the instruments apart for you. (Albert set aside the tools for you.)
- Set down - put, put, create rules.
- Set off - blow up (launch a rocket), set off (from a point), call (protest).
- Set forth - express (thoughts).
- Set forward - nominate (candidacy).
- Set free - free.
- Set back - transfer, bypass, delay, push back, move (clock hands).
To quickly remember the material, do exercises or make up your own sentences based on the examples provided. Performing such tasks helps to quickly work out and memorize the meanings of phrasal verbs.
Set up, set about, set down - there are many expressions in English with the word set. What do these up, about mean? How is it translated and used? Let's find out!
12 meanings of phrasal verbs with set in English
Very often in English there is a mysterious combination: action + small word. Moreover, they are inseparable from each other and do not mean at all what they should mean separately. So, meet, these are phrasal verbs!
There are some tricks associated with phrasal verbs. Read more about their features in this article.
The word itself set has a number of meanings, the first of which is "put in a specific place."
However, phrasal verbs are notorious for the fact that their exact meaning is almost impossible to guess from the word itself.
Set here is no exception. Therefore, we will have to treat all these set off, set aside and set back as separate words, each of which has its own characteristics.
Consider some common phrasal verbs c set.
1. Phrasal verb set about
Transcription and translation:/ [set eb'aut] - start doing something, start, take on.
Meaning of the word: Take up any kind of activity
Use:
The action that comes after this word requires -ing after itself! For example: We started (set about) to prepare (prepar ing) for the holidays. We need to start (set about) discuss (discuss ing) this problem.
Examples:
He set about repair ing the car himself.
He started fix the car yourself.
If you set about cook ing something on this old stove, please, be careful.
If a take it cooking something on that old stove, please be careful.
2. Phrasal verb set apart from
Transcription and translation:/ [set up art from] - distinguish, distinguish from any community
Meaning of the word: To single out something from the general mass, because this “something” is better or just different. For example: A wide vocal range set him apart from other opera singers. Favorable terms of deposits distinguish our bank (set our bank apart from) from competitors.
Examples:
His experience set him apart from his colleagues.
His experience singled out him among colleagues.
What sets you apart from other candidates for this position?
What distinguishes you from other candidates for this vacancy?
3. Phrasal verb set aside
Transcription and translation:/ [set es'aid] - save money
Meaning of the word: Save and set aside money to buy something specific. For example: They started saving money (set aside money) to buy a car. He saves $100 (sets aside $100) every month.
Use:
After this word, it is required to use the word "money" (money) or to name a specific amount.
Examples:
I want to start setting aside money to buy a new bike.
I want to start save money to buy a new bike.
She set aside some money for that new jacket.
She is postponed some money for that new jacket.
4. Phrasal verb set aside
Transcription and translation:/ [set es'aid] - push into the background
Meaning of the word: Discard, push something into the background, because there are more important things. For example: She set aside her career when the baby was born. You need to set aside your fears and just do it.
Examples:
Let's set aside our personal feelings and concentrate on work.
let's push back on the rear plan our personal experiences and focus on work.
We need to set aside our differences and try to reach a compromise!
We need push back on the rear plan our differences and try to reach a compromise!
5. Phrasal verb set back
Transcription and translation:/ [set back] - delay, slow down
Meaning of the word: Slow down the speed of development of something for a certain period of time. For example: Difficulties in transporting building materials significantly slowed down (set back) the construction of a new bridge. Disagreements among members of parliament slowed down (set back) the adoption of reforms.
Use:
If we want to name a specific delay time, then we use by: the weather slowed down (set back) our progress through the mountains by (by) a few days. New plan actions will slow down (set back) our project for (by) a month!
Examples:
The arguments among the superiors set back the project by several weeks.
Disputes among leaders detained project for several weeks.
The accident at the lab set back our research significantly
The accident in the laboratory slowed down our research.
6. Phrasal verb set off
Transcription and translation:/ [set of] - go, start a journey
Meaning of the word: Go somewhere. For example: We set off for a hike early in the morning. I want to set off tomorrow.
Use:
To specify the place where we went, we use for: He went (set off) to (for) Edinburgh on Tuesday. We want to go (set off) to (for) Machu Picchu on our own.
If we specify not the place, but rather the name of the event (trip, business trip, etc.), then it will be on: The Prime Minister went (set off) on a business trip to Turkey. We set off on a long trip through the mountains.
Examples:
He set off for his country house yesterday.
He went to your country house yesterday.
We set off on a long journey to Australia.
We went on a long trip to Australia.
7. Phrasal verb set off
Transcription and translation:/ [set off] - start, activate the device
Meaning of the word: Activate some device: usually explosives or some kind of automatic system: alarm, fire extinguishing system, etc. For example: Children blew up (set off) firecrackers under the window. The burglar set off the alarm when he broke the window.
Examples:
Loud noises sometimes set off the alarm.
Loud noise sometimes leads in action alarm.
The fire alarm was set off by somebody's cigarette.
The fire alarm was given in action someone's cigarette.
Let's find out some open space and set off the fireworks!
Let's find an open space and let's run salute!
7. Phrasal verb set off
Transcription and translation:/ [set off] - trigger some events.
Meaning of the word: To cause events, cause them, provoke them. For example: His speech yesterday caused (set off) a real scandal. Panic among shareholders caused (set off) a wave of sales of shares.
Examples:
When the millionaire appeared at the party without his wife, it set off a lot of rumors.
When a millionaire showed up at a party without his wife, it caused a lot of rumors.
The new law has set off a wave of strikes all over the city.
New law called a wave of strikes throughout the city.
8. Phrasal verb set out
Transcription and translation:/ [set out] - to gather, intend, take up some activity
Meaning of the word: Take on something with a specific purpose. For example: He was going to (set out) break the record of his predecessor. We finally finished what we started (set out) a year ago and finished renovating the house!
Examples:
We set out to prove our theory.
We set out to prove our theory.
Our company set out to become the best in this area.
our company gathered become the best in this field.
9. Phrasal verb set up
Transcription and translation:/ [set up] - install, build
Meaning of the word: Install any buildings or structures. For example: We set up a campground on a mountainside. A monument to the famous scientist was set up on the square.
Examples:
The police set up roadblocks on the bridge.
The police set up a checkpoint on the bridge.
Mr. Smith set up a fence around his country house.
Mr Smith installed a fence around his country house.
10. Phrasal verb set up
Transcription and translation:/ [setup] - install device
Meaning of the word: Install a device, mechanism or computer program, make it ready for use. For example: I set up a new alarm yesterday. We need time to set up the hardware.
Examples:
We set up a stereo system in preparation for the party.
We established stereo system, getting ready for a party.
One moment, I need to set up the camera.
Moment I need install camera.
11. Phrasal verb set up
Transcription and translation:/ [setup] - organize an event or business
Meaning of the word: Prepare everything for the event, establish a business. For example: We decided to organize (set up) a buffet in honor of the holiday. He set up a small shop on the corner where he sells goods from his farm.
Examples:
Our club sets up meetings with famous writers.
Our club organizes meetings with famous writers.
You are going to need more money to set up your own business.
You need more money to organize Own business.
12. Phrasal verb set up
Transcription and translation:/ [set up] - substitute
Meaning of the word: Put the blame on someone for doing something wrong. For example: the arrested person tried to prove that his partner set up him. What if this anonymous scammer set up the police?
Use: Carefully, it's a colloquial word. However, it can be seen in newspapers, detective films and books, news reports and so on.
Examples:
This gun doesn't belong to me, I've been set up!
This gun is not mine, me framed!
He was set up by his own business partners.
His framed own business partners.
Of course, this is not the whole list: new words of this kind appear all the time. However, his example clearly shows how diverse the world of phrasal verbs is. Moreover, they are very often used in colloquial speech - so be sure to pay attention to them when learning English.
Reinforcement task
Insert the correct word in the gap. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.
1. Exceptional quality ___ our new product among similar ones!
2. Steve ___ finish the book no matter what.
3. To finish the project, Ann ___ everything else.
4. A new discovery by scientists ___ the wildest guesses.
5. If you want to go somewhere on vacation, start ___ money now.
6. I ___ on a business trip to Beijing tomorrow.
7. Someone was here! Otherwise, who ___ the alarm?
8. I can't ___ Windows on my computer!
9. In the summer at the dacha we usually ___ a hammock.
10. I ___ to clean the room because I am waiting for guests.
11. We are planning a ____ symposium in November.
12. The problem with the workers strongly ___ our repair.
13. I believe in your innocence, Harry! Someone must have ___ you.
