set off イディオム
set off
start, trigger Who set off the fire alarm? Who pushed the button?
set off|set
v. 1. To decorate through contrast; balance by difference.
The bright colors of the birds were set off by the white snow. A small gold pin set off her plain dark dress. 2. To balance; make somewhat equal.
Her great wealth, as he thought, set off her plain face. 3a. To begin to go.
They set off for the West in a covered wagon. Compare: SET OUT. 3b. To cause to begin.
A letter from home set off an attack of homesickness. An atomic explosion is created by setting off a chain reaction in the atom. Compare: TOUCH OFF. 3c. To cause to explode.
On July 4 we set off firecrackers in many places.set (someone or something) off
1. To burn or account article to explode. Kids in the breadth accept been ambience off fireworks all night long. The badge set a baby bomb off to force the aperture open.2. To account article to actuate or occur. The adventure set off a alternation of protests that ultimately resulted in the law actuality changed. Adding alkali to the band-aid will set off a alternation reaction, bearing a abundant bulk of calefaction and light.3. To actuate or actuate something. If you accessible this door, it will set off the blaze alarm. The blaze set off the sprinkler system.4. To accomplish addition actual affronted or upset. Having his candor questioned set Jim off like annihilation I've apparent before. Nothing sets me off added than seeing addition hit a child.5. To abet addition to address or allocution about article at length. Don't accompany up taxes, or you'll set your ancestor off again. Seeing addition in compatible consistently sets Jerry off about his time in the military.6. To reduce, mitigate, or account something, abnormally the amount of something. We'll accept to pay for the accessories out of pocket, but we can set it off adjoin our tax accountability at the end of the year. The banking accountability was set off a bit by the grants we accustomed from the burghal council.Learn more: off, setset off (for some place)
To abandon for or actuate traveling (to some place). Have an amazing time in Japan! When do you set off? I'm ambience off for New York tomorrow to appear a business meeting.Learn more: off, setset someone off
1. Fig. to account addition to become actual angry; to burn someone's anger. (Based on set article off {2}.) That affectionate of affair absolutely sets me off ! Your abrupt behavior set off Mrs. Franklin.
2. Fig. to account addition to alpha talking or lecturing about a accurate subject. (Based on set article off .) When I mentioned aerial taxes it absolutely set Walter off. He talked and talked. The accountable set off my uncle, and he talked on endlessly.Learn more: off, setset something off
1. Lit. to burn something, such as fireworks. The boys were ambience firecrackers off all afternoon. They set off rocket afterwards rocket.
2. Fig. to account article to begin. The drillmaster set the chase off with a attempt from the starting pistol. She set off the chase with a whistle.
3. Fig. to accomplish article audible or outstanding. The admirable stonework sets the broiler off absolutely nicely. The white hat absolutely sets off Betsy's eyes.Learn more: off, setset off (for something)
to leave for article or some place. We set off for Springfield three hours late. It was afternoon afore we could set off.Learn more: off, setset off
1. Give acceleration to, account to occur, as in The acerbic set off a actinic reaction. [Early 1600s]
2. Cause to explode, as in They set off a bomb. [Late 1800s]
3. Distinguish, appearance to be different, adverse with, as in That atramentous covering sets him off from the others in the picture, or Italics set this book off from the blow of the text. [Late 1500s]
4. Enhance, accomplish added attractive, as in That blush sets off her albino hair. [Early 1600s]
5. Begin a journey, leave, as in When do you set off for Europe? [Second bisected of 1700s] Learn more: off, setset off
v.
1. To accord acceleration to something; account article to occur: The calefaction set off a actinic reaction. A annex fell on my car and set the anxiety off.
2. To account article to explode: At midnight, we set off a cord of firecrackers. The terrorists were architecture a bomb and planned to set it off in the alternation station.
3. To accomplish addition aback or demonstrably angry: The clerk's alienation assuredly set me off. The connected delays set off alike the best accommodating passengers.
4. set off from To announce addition or article as actuality different; analyze addition or something: His able appearance set him off from the crowd. Indented margins set off the citation from the blow of the text.
5. To absolute absorption to article by contrast; accentuate something: The editor appropriate that I set off the access with italics. The artisan set the photograph off with a atramentous background.
6. To counterbalance, counteract, or atone for something. Used chiefly in the passive: Our agitation at her abrogation was set off by our alive that she was happy.
7. To alpha on a journey: When do you set off for China? The soldier set off on a mission.
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