1. Home
2. Idioms
3. set to

set to

---

---

set to

to begin to fight; to attack or commence someone or something. The two boys set to almost as soon as they met each other. They set to and fought for about ten minutes, cursing and screaming.

See also: set

set to

1. Apply oneself, begin, work energetically, as in We set to revamping our policy on child care, or She set to studying for the bar exam. [Early 1400s]

2. Begin fighting, as in Both of them were furious, and they set to immediately. [First half of 1700s]

See also: set

set to

v.

1. To begin working energetically: After we selected the tree, I picked up the ax and set to. We set to cleaning up the mess after the party.

2. To begin fighting: With no hope of escape, I put up my fists and set to.

See also: set