set one's shoulder to the wheel
To make a strong effort to accomplish something
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
set one's watch back
to return to a previous time or situation
set one's watch by someone
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
set out one's stall
To present or promote something, especially a proposal or idea, in a clear and attractive way
set pulses racing
to cause someone to feel excited or thrilled
set something up
to arrange or organize something
set store by
to consider something important or valuable
set straight
To correct or inform someone about a mistake
set the bar
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
set the fox to mind the geese
To put someone in charge who is likely to harm or exploit what they are supposed to protect
set the pace
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
set the record straight
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
set the stage
To prepare or create a situation for something to happen
set the Thames on fire
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
set the wheels in motion
To start a process or take the first steps towards a goal
set the world on fire
To achieve great success or cause a sensation
set to
To begin something with determination; to commence a long and difficult task or project.
set to do something
intend or plan to do something
set to work
start doing something
set up one's staff
To establish oneself as an independent worker or professional
set up shop
To establish a business or operation in a particular location
set-to
A sparring match, a fight; "a DEAD SET" is a determined opposition in argument, or in movement.
setter
A bailiff's follower, who, like a setting dog follows and points the game for his master. Also sometimes an exciseman.
setter
Sevenpence. Italian, SETTE. See SALTEE.—Lingua Franca.
setting a hen
Giving her a certain number of eggs to hatch.
setting a saw
Bending the teeth alternately to the right and left in order to make it cut.
setting her cap at him
Trying to catch him for a sweetheart or a husband. In the days when ladies habitually wore caps they would naturally put on the most becoming, to attract the attention and admiration of the favoured gentleman.
setting jewels
Taking the best portions of a clever book not much known to the general public, and incorporating them quietly with a new work by a thoroughly original author. The credit of this term belongs to Mr. Charles Reade, who explained that the process is accountable for the presence of some writing by one Jonathan Swift, in a story published at Christmas, 1872, and called The Wandering Heir.
settle
To kill, ruin, or effectually quiet a person.
settle a score
to punish or get revenge on someone for something they did
settle for
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
settle in
become comfortable and accustomed to a new place or situation
settle into
become comfortable or accustomed to a new situation
settle one's account
Pay what one owes, often to leave a place or end a relationship
settle someone's hash
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
settle upon
To decide on or choose something
settle with
come to an agreement or compromise
settled
Transported, or sent to penal servitude for life; sometimes spoken of as WINDED-SETTLED.
settling on the lees
Making the best of a bad job ; settling down on what is left, after having squandered the main part of one's fortune.
Seven Churches of Asia
Those mentioned in Rev. i, 11, viz.: — (1) Ephesus, founded by St. Paul, 57, in a ruinous state in the time of Justinian.
Seven Deadly sins
Pride, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, Sloth. The Island of the Seven Cities. A land of Spanish fable, where seven bishops, who quit- ted Spain during the dominion of the Moors, founded seven cities. The legend says that many have visited the island, but no one has ever quitted it.
Seven Dials
A column with seven dials formerly stood facing the seven streets which radiated therefrom.
Seven Hills
The walls of Ancient Rome, built about the 6th century B.C., included the seven hills, Palatine, Capitol, Aventine, Caelian, Esquiline, Viminal and Quirmal. The heart of the modern city clings to these hills, in some cases now scarcely perceptible rises in the street level.
Seven Sacraments
Many previous kings, and even subjects, had been termed "defenders of the Catholic faith," "defenders of the Church," and so on, but no one had borne it as a title.
seven-leagued boots
The boots worn by Boot 132 Bore the giant in the fairy tale, called The Seven- leagued Soots. A pace taken in them measured, seven leagues.
seven-pennorth
Transportation for seven years.
seven-sided animal
A one-eyed man or woman, each having a right side and a left side, a fore side and a back side, an outside, an inside, and a blind side.
seven-up
The game of all-fours, when played for seven chalks—that is, when seven points or chalks have to be made to win the game.
sevendible
A very curious word, used only in the North of Ireland, to denote something particularly severe, strong, or sound. It is, no doubt, derived from sevendouble—that is, sevenfold—and is applied to linen cloth, a heavy beating, a harsh reprimand, &c.
Seventh-day Adventists
A small sect of millenanans holding very strict Sabbatarian views.
Seventh-day Baptists
Modern representa- tives of the Traskites (tf.v.); more numerous m America than in England.
Sevres Ware
Porcelain of fine quality made at the French government works at Sevres, near Paris. The factory was first established at Vincennes in 1745; in 1756 it was removed to Sevres, and three years later was acquired by the state. Sexagesima Sunday (seks ajes' ima). The second Sunday before Lent; so called because in round numbers it is sixty days (Lat. sexagesima dies) before Easter.
sew buttons
to do nothing or idle away time
sewed up
Drunk.
sewed-up
Done up, used up, intoxicated. Dutch, SEEUWT, sick.
sewn-up
Quite worn-out, or "dead beat."
sex machine
A person, usually a man, who is considered highly sexually attractive or skilled.
sex on legs
An extremely attractive or sexy person
sex pact
An agreement to have sex with someone
sex talk
conversations about sex or sexual matters
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