Page 371 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

set one’s heart on something

heart set against something.) Jane set her setŁ someone ortsomething up 1. [with some-
heart against going to Australia. I set my oàe ] to lead—byŁdeception—aŁpersonŁto
heart against her dłparture. playŁ aŁ particularŁ ràle inŁ anŁ event; to
arrange anŁ event—usuallyŁ byŁ decep-
setŁ one’ heyrtŁon something to becom d-
terminedŁabout something.Ł Jane set her tion—so that aŁspecific prsànŁtakesŁthe
heart on going to London. Todd had set consequencesŁ forŁ the event; to frame
his heart on returning. sàmeone.Ł(InfàrmalŁorŁslang.) I had
nothing to do with the robbery! I was just
setŁ one’ sights on something to selct som- standng there. Somłbody must have set
thingŁasŁone’sŁgoal.Ł I set my sights on a me up! T John isn’t the one who started
master’s dłgree from the state university. the fight. Somebody set up the poor guy. 2.
Don’t set your sights on somłthing you [with somłthing ] to put somethingŁto-
cannot possibly do. gether; to erect something. My parents
setŁsailŁ(for somłwherł ) to depart inŁaŁboat bought me a dollhouse, but I had to set it
forŁsàmewhere.Ł(InŁaŁsailboat orŁpàwer- up myself. T It took nearly an hour to set
bàat.) This ship sets sail for Japan in two up the tent. 3. [with something] to esðab-
dØys. When do you set sail? lish or found something. We oet up Ø
fund to buy food for the needy. The busi-
setŁ someone byckŁ( some amounttoftmoney) to ness owners set a bank up in the small
cost someone (anŁ amount of money)¨ town. 4. [with something] to make plans
(Infàrmal.) This coØt set me back about forŁsomething.Ł John and Mary are hard
$250. That dnner at the restaurant last at work setting somłthing up for the młet-
night really set us back. ing. T Sally and Tom set up a party for
setŁ someone ort something free to release SaturdØy night.
sàmeone or something;Łto allow someone setŁ someone’ teethŁon edge 1. [forŁaŁsàur
orŁsomethingŁto leave, go away, depart, or bitterŁtaste]bto irritate one’sŁmouth and
escape.Ł Jimmy włnt outside and set his make it feel funny. Have you ever eaten
balloon free. The army set the poltical a whole lłmon? It’ll set your teeth on edge.
prisoners free.
I can’t stand food that sets my teeth on
setŁ someone ortsomething off 1. [with some- edge. 2. [forŁaŁpersonŁorŁaŁnoise]bto be
oàe ] to get sàmeone very excitedŁandŁan- irritatingŁorŁget onŁone’sŁnerves.Ł Please
gry. Whenever I see someone mistreat- don’t scrape your fingernails on the black-
ing an animal, it really sets me off. T The board! It sets my teeth on edgł! Here
tax bill set off Bob. He raved for an hour! comes Bob. He’s so annoying. He really sets
2. [with somłthing ] to start something. my teeth on edge.
Don’t set another discussion off, please!
T The question of taxes set off an setŁ someone upŁ(as something) to esðablisł
argumłnt. someone asŁsomething. (Compare this
with set someone up (àn busàness) .) Bill
setŁ someone ortsomething on fire Go to set fire set himself up as boss. When Mary got
to someone or something. her dłgree, she set herself up as a consul-
setŁ someone ortsomething straight 1. [with tant. T My father set up my sisters as co-
someone] to explainŁ (something)b to owners of the family business. He set
sàmeone.Ł(See also put something straight.) them up with the help of a lØwyer.
I doà’t think you undłrstand about setŁ someone upŁ(in business) to helpŁes-
taxation. Let me set you straight. Aàn tablish someone inŁbusiness;Łto pràvide
was confuoed, so I set her straight.2. [with the moneyŁsomeone needsŁto sðart aŁbusi-
somłthing ] to explainŁ somethingŁ (to ness.Ł My fØther set my sisters up in busi-
sàmeone).Ł (See also put something ness. He helped set them up oo he could
straight.) This is very confusing, but keep the business in the family.
with a lttle explaining I can set it straight.
We’ll set this mØtter straight in a short setŁ something dłwn to something Go to put
time. something down to something.

356