set off

出发，动身；解脱；装饰；抵消；使爆炸，点燃；引起

They set off in file behind the teacher.(他们跟在教师后面鱼贯出发。)

He set off with a loping stride.(他迈着轻快的步伐出发了。)

The clock said four minutes past eleven when we set off.(我们出发时，时钟显示11点4分。)

They were going to set off in the fog, but were dissuaded.(他们原打算在雾中出发，但被劝阻了。)

They set off into the country's uncharted interior.(他们出发前往这个国家人迹罕至的内陆。)

We crammed into my car and set off.(我们挤进我的汽车，出发了。)

We set off at a smart pace.(我们快步出发了。)

They set off at a steady pace.(他们以不紧不慢的速度出发了。)

We set off in a southerly direction.(我们向南方出发了。)

So we set off again, cursing the delay, toward the west.(于是我们再次出发，诅咒着延误，向西走。)

verb

1. cause to burst with a violent release of energy

e.g. We exploded the nuclear bomb

Synonym: explodedetonateblow up

2. set in motion or cause to begin

e.g. The guide set the tour off to a good start

3. direct attention to, as if by means of contrast

e.g. This dress accentuates your nice figure!
I set off these words by brackets

Synonym: bring out

4. provoke or stir up

e.g. incite a riot
set off great unrest among the people

Synonym: inciteinstigatestir up

5. put in motion or move to act

e.g. trigger a reaction
actuate the circuits

Synonym: tripactuatetriggeractivatespark offsparktrigger offtouch off

6. leave

e.g. The family took off for Florida

Synonym: departpartstartstart outset forthset outtake off

7. make up for

e.g. His skills offset his opponent's superior strength

Synonym: canceloffset

1. 动身;出发;启程
When you set off, you start a journey.

e.g. Nichols set off for his remote farmhouse in Connecticut...
尼科尔斯动身去他在康涅狄格州的偏僻农舍了。
e.g. The President's envoy set off on another diplomatic trip...
总统的使节开始了又一次外交之旅。

2. 引爆(炸弹);触发，拉响(警报等)
If something sets off something such as an alarm or a bomb, it makes it start working so that, for example, the alarm rings or the bomb explodes.

set off

e.g. Any escape, once it's detected, sets off the alarm...
一旦发现有泄漏，警报就会响起来。
e.g. Someone set off a fire extinguisher...
有人打开了灭火器。

3. 引发;触发;激起
If something sets off an event or a series of events, it causes it to start happening.

e.g. The arrival of the charity van set off a minor riot as villagers scrambled for a share of the aid...
救济物资车的到来引发了小小的骚乱,村民们争先恐后地想抢到一份援助物资。
e.g. If he attended a party without his wife, it set off a storm of speculation.
如果他没和妻子一块儿出席宴会，便会招致各种猜测满天飞。

4. 使发怒;使回忆起来;使侃侃而谈
If something sets a person off, it makes them angry, or makes them remember something and they start talking a lot.

e.g. The smallest thing sets him off, and he can't stop talking about his childhood.
一件微不足道的小事都能打开他的话匣子，他会滔滔不绝地讲述他的童年。

5. 衬托;(通常指通过对比)使显得更漂亮
If one colour, flavour, or object sets off another, it makes it look more attractive, often by providing a contrast.

e.g. Blue suits you, sets off the colour of your hair.
蓝色很适合你，能衬托出你的发色。
e.g. ...perfectly proportioned galleries that set off the contents to their best advantage.
结构匀称完美、能最有效地凸显其展品的展览馆