Set something up meaning in English

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Definition

to set up (a meeting): to organize, to arrange, to schedule, to program, to plan (a meeting) verb
I've set up a press conference for this afternoon. I've organized it for 2pm.

Examples

  • "We'll set something up for next week and please close the door on your way out."
  • "Well, why don't you give me your phone number, and we can set something up for next week, maybe at my place."
Exercise 1
Philip says to Mick McManus: "I'll set it up before you take off"
Philip is telling Mick that he will Harold Warbuckle before Mick .
Philip says to Mick McManus: "I'll set it up before you take off"
Philip is telling Mick that he will arrange a meeting with 1 Harold Warbuckle before Mick returns to Australia 2.
1 arrange a meeting with: To "set up a meeting" is another way of saying "to arrange" or "to schedule a meeting". The pronoun "it" refers to the subject of Mick's previous question to Philip, "Hey, were you able to get me an appointment with Warbuckle?". "It" refers to the "appointment". Note that the phrasal verb "to set up" has many different meanings in different contexts.
1 put pressure on: The expression "to set up" or to "set something up" is not related in any way to "putting pressure" on someone or something. To put pressure (on somebody) is to force or persuade them (usually verbally).
1 sign a contract with: The expression "to set up" or to "set something up" is not related in any way to "signing a contract", which refers to reaching a written agreement.
1 send a fax to: The expression "to set up" or to "set something up" is not related in any way to "sending a fax", which refers to transmitting a document with a fax machine.
2 returns to Australia: The phrasal verb "to take off" has a few different meanings, but here it expresses the "departure" or the "flight" of someone or something. A plane "takes off" when it leaves the ground and ascends into the air. In everyday conversation, "to take off" can be used simply to indicate someone's departure. When Philip offers to set up the appointment, he says he will do it before Mick departs.
2 goes surfing: "To take off" does not express anything related to surfing.
2 meets with Bruno Delavigne: "To take off" does not express anything related to a meeting.
2 starts his vacation: Do not confuse the phrasal verb "to take off" with the idiom "to take time off" which can express that someone will be absent from work or go on vacation.
Exercise 2
Jean Marron makes some mistakes in this dialogue. Let's help him improve his English!

Choose the most appropriate idiomatic expression in the sentences below.

Jean: One moment please! I arrive! ---> One moment please! !

Jean: ...and then we can go at table. ---> ...and then .
Jean Marron makes some mistakes in this dialogue. Let's help him improve his English!

Choose the most appropriate idiomatic expression in the sentences below.

Jean: One moment please! I arrive! ---> One moment please! I'm coming 1!

Jean: ...and then we can go at table. ---> ...and then we can sit down to dinner 2.
1 I'm coming: "I'm coming" is what we say to let someone know that we are on our way. Example: "-Hurry up, or we'll be late! -I'm coming!". When someone knocks on our door, we say "I'm coming" to tell them that we will soon come and open the door.
1 I'm going: It does not make sense to say "I'm going" in this context. To "go" is to "leave": quite the opposite of Jean's meaning in this sentence. Moreover, this is not the idiom we use to tell someone we are coming to open the door.
1 I go: It does not make sense to say " go" in this context. To "go" is to "leave": quite the opposite of Jean's meaning in this sentence. Moreover, this is not the idiom we use to tell someone we are coming to open the door.
1 I come: It does not make sense to use the present simple tense here, because Jean is not expressing that coming to answer the door is a habitual action for him. Rather, we need the present progressive tense to describe an action in progress.
2 we can sit down to dinner: This is the best choice here. To "sit down to a meal" is to find a seat at the table and begin eating. Example: "Nowadays, not many families sit down to dinner together".
2 we can begin the table: It does not make sense to "begin a table". We can "begin a book" because people will understand that we are reading or writing it, but we cannot "begin a table".
2 we can set the table: This is not the best answer here. To "set the table" is to put plates, knives, forks, and glasses on it in preparation for a meal. Jean is not asking his guests to do this.
2 we can set up the table: This is not the best answer here. To "set up (a meeting)" is to arrange it. To "set up" a piece of furniture is to "assemble" or "build" it. Neither of these meanings makes sense here.

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