Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

set sb off

informal phrasal verb with set
 
 
/set/ verb (present tense setting, past tense and past participle set)

Definition

to cause someone to start doing something: [+ -ing verb] Every time I think about it, it sets me off laughing. She's finally stopped crying - now don't set her off again.Starting and beginningStarting again
(Definition of set sb off from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Word of the Day

rain on sb's parade

to do something that spoils someone's plans

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More