set off

Meaning

1. Oxford40% of films

   to begin a journey

   And so Barbie and Ken set off

2. Oxford30% of films

   to make a bomb, etc. explode

3. Oxford15% of films

   to make an alarm start ringing

   Oh, fuck 'em. They set off the alarm.

4. Oxford5% of films

   to start a process or series of events

In the movies · 26

• We can set off properly tomorrow.The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse2022
• Oh, fuck 'em. They set off the alarm.Reservoir Dogs1992
• And so Barbie and Ken set offBarbie2023
• So finally, I set off.Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father2008
• Set off Diversion Track C!South Park: Imaginationland2008
• Those morons set off the explosives too early.The Suicide Squad2021
• It sets off an alarm.The Hate U Give2018
• Oh, it doesn't matter, sir, you set off the alarm.Remember2015

Learn it in full scenes

• Reservoir Dogs1992
  • The Madonna Theory Debate
  • Mr. Pink Refuses to Tip
  • Mr. White Reassures Mr. Orange
• Barbie2023
  • Barbie Rewrites the Doll Story
  • Barbie's Perfect Day in Barbie Land
  • Ken Beaches Off and Gets Hurt

From the same entry

• set about
• set about
• set against
• set against
• set apart
• set apart
• set aside
• set back
• set back
• set back
• set down
• set down

More phrasal verbs

• watch out for
• look up to
• check out
• think of
• switch off
• rely on
• move in with
• breathe in
• call back
• fuck up
• mess up
• blow up