set about
set about (doing something)
To undertake a task; to begin doing something. After the meeting, I'll set about writing a draft of the report. They set about cleaning the house from top to bottom before their guests arrived.
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set about (one)
old-fashioned To attack or assault one physically. The two thugs set about the poor man with iron crowbars. I accosted the man for his rude remarks, and he set about me before I knew what was happening.
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Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
set someone about something
to make someone begin doing something. I set the boys about raking up the leaves. She set herself about repairing the damaged machine.
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McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
set about
Begin, start, as in How do we set about solving this puzzle? [c. 1600]
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
set about
v.
To start doing something or some task: After collecting sticks, the campers set about building a fire.
See also: set
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- set about (doing something)
- set about doing
- set to
- set to do
- set to work (on something)
- get (all) set
- get set
- set
- all set
- set the ball rolling