set upon
Related to set upon: loosened, endeared
set (someone or something) (up)on (one)
To command, instruct, or order someone or an animal to attack one. The guards set the dogs on the would-be thieves. The crime boss set his goons upon the accountant who refused to launder money for him.
See also: set
set (up)on (doing something)
Determined to do or achieve something. My cousin, set upon being the best tennis player in the world, trains for six hours every day. She's been set on becoming a fighter pilot ever since she was a little girl.
See also: set
set (up)on (someone or something)
To viciously attack someone or something. The pair of thieves set upon the traveling merchant, stealing his goods and leaving him half-dead on the side of the road. The parade descended into chaos as a drunken band of teenagers set upon the main float and began tearing it to pieces. The deer was set on by the mountain lion.
See also: set
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
set upon someone or something
to attack someone or something violently. The dogs set upon the bear and chased it up a tree. Bill set upon Tom and struck him hard in the face.
See also: set, upon
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
set upon
v.
To attack someone or something violently: The gang set upon their victim with clubs.
See also: set, upon
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- set (someone or something) (up)on (one)
- set on
- get (all) set
- get set
- set (someone or something) back
- set back
- set someone back
- set (up)on (doing something)
- set out
- set (something) out