set off

¹

verb

1. (intr) to embark on a journey

2. (tr) to cause (a person) to act or do something, such as laugh or tell stories

3. (tr) to cause to explode

4. (tr) to act as a foil or contrast to, esp so as to improve

   that brooch sets your dress off well

5. (tr) accounting to cancel a credit on (one account) against a debit on another, both of which are in the name of the same person, enterprise, etc

6. (intr) to bring a claim by way of setoff

noun

1. anything that serves as a counterbalance

2. anything that serves to contrast with or enhance something else; foil

3. another name for setback See set back

4. a counterbalancing debt or claim offered by a debtor against a creditor

5. a cross claim brought by a debtor that partly offsets the creditor's claim See also counterclaim

set-off

²

noun

1. Also called (esp Brit): offset. printing a fault in which ink is transferred from a heavily inked or undried printed sheet to the sheet next to it in a pile

Idioms and Phrases

Give rise to, cause to occur, as in The acid set off a chemical reaction . [Early 1600s]

Cause to explode, as in They set off a bomb . [Late 1800s]

Distinguish, show to be different, contrast with, as in That black coat sets him off from the others in the picture , or Italics set this sentence off from the rest of the text . [Late 1500s]

Enhance, make more attractive, as in That color sets off her blonde hair . [Early 1600s]

Begin a journey, leave, as in When do you set off for Europe? [Second half of 1700s]

Example Sentences

The men had shared key details of their route – from Providence Pot to Dow Cave – before setting off, and Mr Hammond said this "saved the day".

From BBC

A fell-runner who had set off from Ambleside in the hope of making it down before the storm took hold had called for help after twisting an ankle.

From BBC

With his hook and bait, he sets off for the day's fishing trip.

From BBC

People threw rocks or chunks of cinder blocks, lit objects on fire and set off fireworks in the direction of law enforcement, Galvez’s agreement states.

From Los Angeles Times

Around City Hall, news of the council’s inaction set off speculation about whether it was the result of a scheduling mix-up — or because Southers’ backers didn’t believe he could get enough votes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• add to www.thesaurus.com
• aggravate 
• boost 
• build up 
• deepen 
• enhance 
• escalate 
• exacerbate 
• heat up 
• heighten 
• increase 
• quicken 
• raise 
• redouble 
• reinforce 
• sharpen 
• step up 
• strengthen