Idioms and Phrases 27

1. set about: begin.

• Set about your work carefully.

2. set against: oppose.

• Many social reformers set against child marriage in India.

3. set aside: reject.

• The decision of the lower court was set aside by the High Court.

4. set down: write.

• I shall set down the account of my journey most faithfully.

5. set forth: express.

• Please, set forth your views most faithfully.

6. set in: start.

• Winter has set in early this year.

7. set off: start.

• Columbus set off on a difficult journey with a rebellious Crew.

8. set on: excite.

• He committed the murderous act only when he was set on to do so.

9. set out: (i) start.

• Columbus set out on his journey for the discovery of India with a hopeful outlook.

 (ii) show.

• The lawyer set out his case before the judge in the best possible manner. 

10. set to: (i) affix.

• Set your seal to this document.

 (ii) begin to apply.

• Let him set to his work at once.

11. set up: (i) erect.

• The engineers set up mile stones along the road.

(ii) establish.

• He has set up a good business.

(iii) put forward.

• It is bad to set up hired witness.

(iv) put in power.

• Only the mightiest man was set up as a king in the ancient Greece.

12. set with: studded with.

• The gold-plate was set with pearls in the centre.

13. settle down: (i) establish.

• The Moghuls settle down in India.

 (ii) become quiet.

• The quarrelling sons settled down when their father interfered in their matter.

14. show off: display.

• Women are fond of showing off their new dresses and ornaments.

15. show up: expose.

• It is not a good practice to show up other persons.

16. shut in: enclose.

• Shut in the cattle inside the fence.

17. shut out: keep off.

• You can shut out the rain by closing all the doors of the house.

18. shut up: keep silent.

• The teacher ordered the students to shut up.

19. sit down: take one’s seat.

• As the teacher entered the class, the students sat down.

20. sit up: does not like to lie down.

• He sat up till late in the night.

21. sneer at: make a show of contempt.

• He sneered at others.

22. spring at: jump at.

• He sprang at the nail to touch it.

23. spring in: enter in all of a sudden.

• He sprang in due to extreme cold outside.

24. spring up: develop.

• A good association sprang up between the two friends.

25. stamp out: (i) destroy.

• Plague should be stamped out.

(ii) suppress.

• The rebellion should be stamped out.