set off
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Passing through the building’s security, one woman set off a metal detector with her hip, another with her knees.
Some set off green and red fireworks as they walked down Piccadilly in central London.
From BBC
The fast service, which gets to London in under two hours, will still set off from Manchester Piccadilly at 07:00 on four weekdays, but will not be available to commuters.
From BBC
A hastily agreed sale to Swiss trading firm Gunvor was spiked by the Treasury Department, setting off a scramble among other energy companies and investors to buy the potentially lucrative assets.
The news set off a panic not just in Glenn County but at hospitals around the state.
From Los Angeles Times
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.