En 15 secondes
- To begin a journey or trip.
- To trigger an alarm or explosion.
- To cause a sudden emotional reaction.
Signification
This phrase is most commonly used to describe starting a journey or accidentally triggering an alarm or a reaction.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Starting a road trip
We need to set off early to avoid the morning traffic.
We need to start our journey early to avoid the morning traffic.
Accidentally triggering a car alarm
The ball hit the car and set off the alarm.
The ball hit the car and triggered the alarm.
A professional project launch
The CEO's speech set off a series of new investments.
The CEO's speech sparked a series of new investments.
Contexte culturel
In the UK, 'setting off' is heavily associated with Bonfire Night (Nov 5th). It's the standard verb for lighting fireworks. The 'Road Trip' is a major cultural touchstone. 'Setting off' across the country represents freedom and the spirit of the frontier. In professional settings, 'set off' is used to describe triggering financial or legal consequences. Curators and designers use 'set off' to describe how colors and textures interact in a space.
The 'For' Rule
Always use 'for' when mentioning your destination: 'Set off for London.'
Pronoun Placement
Remember: 'Set it off,' NOT 'Set off it.' This is a very common exam mistake!
En 15 secondes
- To begin a journey or trip.
- To trigger an alarm or explosion.
- To cause a sudden emotional reaction.
What It Means
Set off is a versatile phrasal verb. It usually means to begin a trip or a long journey. It also means to cause something to explode or start working. Think of a firework or a smoke alarm. If you touch it, you set it off. It can also describe starting a chain reaction in a person. For example, a sad movie might set off someone's crying.
How To Use It
You can use it as a separable or inseparable verb depending on the meaning. When talking about a journey, you just say we set off. You don't need an object. When talking about an alarm, you can say I set off the alarm or I set the alarm off. Use it when you want to describe the exact moment an action starts. It feels more active than just saying start or leave.
When To Use It
Use it when you are standing at your front door with your suitcases. It is perfect for travel plans. Use it when discussing technology or security systems that might beep. It is also great for chemistry or cooking. If you burn the toast, you might set off the smoke detector. You can also use it in a social way. If a joke makes everyone laugh, that joke set off a wave of laughter.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for simple daily tasks. You don't set off to the bathroom or the kitchen. That sounds too epic. Avoid it for formal business contracts. You initiate a contract, you don't set it off. Also, don't confuse it with set up. Set up is about organizing; set off is about the spark that starts the fire.
Cultural Background
In British English, set off is the standard way to talk about starting a commute or holiday. In American English, people often say set out or just head out. Historically, it relates to setting a trap or a fuse. It carries a sense of 'releasing' energy that was stored up. It’s very common in mystery novels when a trap is triggered.
Common Variations
You might hear set someone off. This usually means making someone angry or making them laugh uncontrollably. If your friend is sensitive about a topic, don't set them off. Another variation is set off against. This is used in accounting to balance two different costs. It’s much more boring than the other meanings!
Notes d'usage
The phrase is neutral and works in almost any setting. Be careful with the separable form 'set [someone] off' as it can imply you are annoying them.
The 'For' Rule
Always use 'for' when mentioning your destination: 'Set off for London.'
Pronoun Placement
Remember: 'Set it off,' NOT 'Set off it.' This is a very common exam mistake!
Aesthetic Use
Use 'set off' in writing to describe how a character's clothing or features contrast. It sounds very natural and sophisticated.
British English
In the UK, 'set off' is the most common way to talk about fireworks. In the US, people often say 'light off' or 'fire off.'
Exemples
6We need to set off early to avoid the morning traffic.
We need to start our journey early to avoid the morning traffic.
Focuses on the departure time for a trip.
The ball hit the car and set off the alarm.
The ball hit the car and triggered the alarm.
Describes an external force causing a device to activate.
The CEO's speech set off a series of new investments.
The CEO's speech sparked a series of new investments.
Used here to mean 'initiated' or 'sparked'.
That cat video totally set me off; I couldn't stop laughing!
That cat video really made me start laughing; I couldn't stop!
Informal use meaning to trigger an emotional response.
Seeing the old photo set her off crying again.
Seeing the old photo made her start crying again.
Describes a trigger for a deep emotional release.
I'm a terrible cook; I set off the smoke alarm just boiling water.
I'm a terrible cook; I triggered the smoke alarm just boiling water.
Self-deprecating humor about a common household event.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'set off'.
We had to ______ ______ at 5 AM to catch our flight.
The base form is used after 'had to'.
Which sentence uses 'set off' correctly with a pronoun?
Choose the correct sentence:
Pronouns must go between 'set' and 'off' in the transitive sense.
Match the usage of 'set off' with its meaning.
Match the following:
These are the four primary senses of the phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Why is the car alarm ringing? B: A cat jumped on the hood and ______.
The past tense of 'set' is 'set', and the pronoun 'it' must be in the middle.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'set off'?
You are leaving your house for a two-week vacation.
'Set off' is the correct phrasal verb for starting a journey.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
Set Off vs. Set Out
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesWe had to ______ ______ at 5 AM to catch our flight.
The base form is used after 'had to'.
Choose the correct sentence:
Pronouns must go between 'set' and 'off' in the transitive sense.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the four primary senses of the phrase.
A: Why is the car alarm ringing? B: A cat jumped on the hood and ______.
The past tense of 'set' is 'set', and the pronoun 'it' must be in the middle.
You are leaving your house for a two-week vacation.
'Set off' is the correct phrasal verb for starting a journey.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsMostly, yes. But 'set off' sounds more like the *start* of a planned journey, whereas 'leave' is more general.
No, you 'start' the car. You only 'set off' the car if you mean you triggered its alarm.
They are very similar for journeys. 'Set out' often implies a more serious or long-term goal.
It is 'set off.' The verb 'set' does not change in the past tense.
Yes! It can set off a 'chain reaction of kindness' or 'set off' someone's beauty.
It is neutral. It's fine for emails, stories, and daily talk.
Use it when something small makes someone start a big reaction: 'That joke set him off laughing.'
Sometimes. A sauce can 'set off' the flavor of the meat by providing contrast.
It is two words as a verb ('set off'). As a noun, 'offset' is one word but has a different meaning.
It means to *cause* an explosion. 'He set off the bomb.'
Yes, the runners 'set off' when the gun fires.
'Trigger' is more formal and often used in psychology or technology. 'Set off' is more common in daily life.
Expressions liées
set out
similarTo begin a journey or start a task with a specific goal.
kick off
similarTo start an event or a process.
trigger
synonymTo cause a device or reaction to start.
head out
informalTo leave a place.
set about
builds onTo start doing something.
