set up
set (one) up with (someone or something)
1. To provide one with a job or business opportunity. I asked my cousin to set me up with a job at his company. After college, his father will be setting him up with a position at the firm.
2. To pair a person with someone else for a date or the possibility of a romantic relationship. There's a guy from work I'd really like to set you up with. I was skeptical when he said he'd set me up with his friend, but we actually had a wonderful evening together.
See also: set, up
set (someone or something) up
1. To deceive someone so that they do or fall victim to something. A: "The doors are all locked and the police are outside!" B: "That no-good liar set us up!" There have been reports recently of scam artists trying to set customers up so that they divulge their bank account details over the phone.
2. To make it look like someone is guilty of some crime or wrongdoing; to frame someone. Those drugs aren't mine—someone is setting me up!
3. To give someone the financial capital needed to start or maintain a business. If my father-in-law hadn't set me up, I never would have been able to own my own store.
4. To elect someone to or establish someone in a position of power, authority, or influence. They set him up as their party's presidential candidate. I think my bosses want to set me up as the new general manager.
5. To provide someone with adequate nourishment. The B&B provides a generous breakfast that will set you up for the rest of the day.
6. To build or assemble something. I bought everything I need for the doghouse, I just need to find the time to set it up. I bought a slide for my son's birthday, not realizing it would take me two hours to set the darn thing up.
7. To make something ready to use. We bought a new TV. John's just setting it up now. My daughter's coming over to set up the new computer for me.
8. To create, establish, or found something. The president is setting up a task force to look into ways of reducing the national debt. Can you believe he set the charity up when he was just 15?
See also: set, up
setup
1. A situation that is contrived or manipulated to ensnare or deceive someone. A: "The doors are all locked and the police are outside!" B: "It's a setup! Every man for himself!" I could tell by the suspicious way she was acting that the whole interview was probably a setup, so I specifically avoided any illegal topic she tried to bring up.
2. A contest, especially a sporting event, arranged beforehand to have a particular outcome. Many suspected the fight of being a setup, considering how easily the former heavyweight champion went down in the second round.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
set someone up (in business)
to help establish someone in business; to provide the money someone needs to start a business. My father set my sisters up in business. He helped set them up so he could keep the business in the family.
See also: set, up
set someone up
to lead-by deception-a person to play a particular role in an event; to arrange an event-usually by deception-so that a specific person suffers the consequences for the event; to frame someone. (See also set someone up (as something).) I had nothing to do with the robbery! I was just standing there. Somebody must have set me up! John isn't the one who started the fight. Somebody set up the poor guy.
See also: set, up
set something up (with someone)
to make plans for something. John is hard at work setting something up with Bill and Mary. Sally and Tom set up a party for Saturday night.
See also: set, up
set something up
1. Lit. to put something together; to erect something. My parents bought me a dollhouse, but I had to set it up myself. It took nearly an hour to set up the tent.
2. Fig. to establish or found something. We set up a fund to buy food for the needy. The business owners set a bank up in the small town.
See also: set, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
set up
1. Place in an upright position, as in I keep setting up this lamp but it won't stay up. [c. 1200]
2. Elevate, raise; also, put in a position of authority or power, as in They set him up as their leader. [Late 1300s]
3. Put oneself forward, claim to be, as in He set himself up as an authority on the banking system. [Mid-1800s]
4. Assemble, erect, make ready for use, as in They set up the sound system last night. [c. 1200]
5. Establish, found, as in They set up a new charity for the homeless. [Early 1400s]
6. Establish in business by providing capital or other backing, as in His father set her up in a new dental practice. [First half of 1500s]
7. Treat someone to drinks, pay for drinks, as in Please let us set you up tonight. [Colloquial; late 1800s]
8. Stimulate or exhilarate, as in That victory really set up our team. [c. 1600]
9. Lay plans for, as in I think they set up the kidnapping months ago. [First half of 1900s]
10. Prepare someone for a deception or trickery or joke, as in They set up their victim for the usual real estate scam, or Her friends set her up so that she was the only person in costume. [Mid-1900s]
11. Cause, bring about, as in The new taxes set up howls of protest. [Mid-1800s]
See also: set, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
set up
v.
1. To place something in a high or upright position: Please set the books up on the top shelf.
2. To assemble, erect, or organize something: The kids set up a tent in the backyard. I bought a new table, but I'm not sure how to set it up. We need to set up a good schedule for taking the kids to school. The scientist set up the data in rows and columns. I have all the supplies for the picnic, so let's set them up.
3. To lay out a plan to do something: The police caught the gang trying to set up a kidnapping. They didn't commit the crime, but they did set it up.
4. To establish something; found something: We used the money to set up a charity. We don't have a separate office for handling taxes, but maybe we should set one up.
5. To give someone everything that is needed: Don't worry that you forgot to pack your good clothes; I'll set you up.
6. To establish someone in business by providing capital, equipment, or other backing: I wanted to start an Italian restaurant, and my grandparents, who were in the business for years, helped set me up. The agency set up the struggling entrepreneurs by providing small loans.
7. To treat someone, especially to drinks: The bartender sets up all of his close friends for one beer. If you don't have enough money for another beer, I'll set you up.
8. To create the needed conditions for something: The team's defense set up a good play.
9. Sports To make a pass to some other player in order to create an opportunity to score: I set up the other forward for an easy goal. The best offensive players don't always score the most, but they set their teammates up.
10. To put someone or something into a position of authority or power; invest someone with power: The board members set up the former secretary as the company's new president. The leaders of the coup set the general up as a dictator.
11. To give the impression, especially a false impression, that someone is something: She set herself up as an authority on Latin, but she really doesn't know that much. The newspapers set him up as a star athlete, but he had only played three professional games.
12. To put someone into a compromising situation by deceit or trickery: He set up the tourists by convincing them he needed bus fare to get home, and then he stole their money. Those swindlers have set me up.
13. To arrange for someone to meet someone as a possible mate: A friend set me up with his brother. The dating service set us up.
See also: set, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- set (one) up with (someone or something)
- come to the job with
- come to the job with (something)
- land (something)
- land a job
- on the job
- ease into (something)
- inning
- a good innings
- more than your job's worth