set off

set off idiom
  1. Give rise to, cause to occur, as in The acid set off a chemical reaction. [Early 1600s]
  2. Cause to explode, as in They set off a bomb. [Late 1800s]
  3. Distinguish, show to be different, contrast with, as in That black coat sets him off from the others in the picture, or Italics set this sentence off from the rest of the text. [Late 1500s]
  4. Enhance, make more attractive, as in That color sets off her blonde hair. [Early 1600s]
  5. Begin a journey, leave, as in When do you set off for Europe? [Second half of 1700s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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