set against: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “set against” mean?
To cause someone to oppose or be hostile toward someone or something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause someone to oppose or be hostile toward someone or something; to compare or contrast two things.
Can also mean to balance one thing against another in accounting or decision-making, or to place something in opposition to something else.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Set against' is slightly more common in British English in financial/accounting contexts (e.g., 'set against tax').
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a formal or deliberate connotation when meaning 'to cause opposition'. The comparison sense is neutral.
Frequency
Moderately frequent in both varieties, with a slight edge in British English in written texts.
Grammar
How to Use “set against” in a Sentence
[someone] set [someone] against [someone/something][something] set against [something]be set against [something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “set against” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The scandal set the public against the minister.
- You can set your training costs against tax.
American English
- The divisive rhetoric set neighbor against neighbor.
- Capital losses can be set against gains.
adjective
British English
- She seems dead set against moving to London.
American English
- He is firmly set against the proposed merger.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in finance: 'Losses can be set against future profits.'
Academic
Used in arguments: 'The theory is set against the prevailing paradigm.'
Everyday
Used in relationships:
Technical
Used in photography/design: 'The figure is set against a dark background.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “set against”
- Using 'set against' to mean 'start fighting' (use 'set upon').
- Incorrect preposition: 'set against to' (correct: 'set against').
- Using it transitively without an object: 'He set against the plan.' (Correct: 'He was set against the plan' or 'They set him against the plan.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. E.g., 'They set the children against their father' or 'They set against the children their father.' (The latter is very formal/rare).
'Set against' implies an active process of causing opposition or a deliberate comparison. 'Opposed to' simply describes a state of opposition. 'He was set against it' suggests someone influenced him; 'He was opposed to it' just states his position.
Rarely. Its core semantics involve opposition or contrast. Even in comparison ('set the advantages against the disadvantages'), it is neutral, not positive.
The past tense and past participle are 'set'. 'Setted' is incorrect. E.g., 'Yesterday's news set him against the idea.'
To cause someone to oppose or be hostile toward someone or something.
Set against is usually neutral to formal in register.
Set against: in British English it is pronounced /ˌset əˈɡenst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌset əˈɡenst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “set one's face against”
- “set against the grain”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of two chess pieces SET on the board, facing each other AGONISTically (like antagonists) – SET AGAINST.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPOSITION IS PHYSICAL ORIENTATION (facing against); COMPARISON IS WEIGHING (balancing scales).
Practice
Quiz
In a financial report, 'set against' most likely means: