dead set

American  

[ded set, ded set] / ˈdɛd ˈsɛt, ˈdɛd ˌsɛt /

adjective

1. firmly decided or determined; resolved.

   His family was dead set against the marriage.

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noun

1. a serious or determined attempt; firm effort.

   He made a dead set at winning the championship.

2. Hunting. the stiff posture assumed by a hunting dog in indicating the presence and location of game.

dead set British  

adverb

1. absolutely

   he is dead set against going to Spain

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noun

1. the motionless position of a dog when pointing with its muzzle towards game

adjective

1. (of a hunting dog) in this position

interjection

1. slang an expression of affirmation

   dead set, I worked from dawn to dusk

Etymology

Origin of dead set

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

Daddy woke up very early the next morning, dead set on accomplishing an important mission—getting work.

From Literature

He calls it The Dean Wormer effect, named for the buzzkill college official who is dead set on getting in the way of the Delta Tau Chi House’s good time.

From Salon

“There were some colleagues that were dead set against it, saying they would never help China learn our technology,” said one magnet expert who ultimately agreed to go to China.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The very fact they were dead set on employing these independent advocates themselves says something about the culture - its control, and just not even beginning to understand the nature of independence."

From BBC

“He is dead set on it,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said at MLB’s winter meetings.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adamant
• austere
• definite
• exact
• fixed
• hard-line
• harsh
• inflexible
• intransigent
• rigorous
• solid
• stern
• stringent
• uncompromising
• unyielding