set against 
 

make antagonistic
 

She likes to set people against one another.
A ella le gusta poner en contra a las personas.

set aside




 

1) put on one side
for use later on
 

She set aside her winter coat and took out her summer dress.
Puso a un costado su abrigo de invierno y sacó su vestido veraniego.

2) reserve
 

The hotel manager set two pleasant rooms aside for us.
El gerente del hotel nos reservó dos agradables habitaciones.

set back
 

delay
 

This situation will set back the project by many years.
Esta situación retrasará el proyecto por varios años.

set down 
 

deposit people, allow a passenger to get down or out

The bus stopped to set down an old lady..
El autobus se detuvo para dejar bajar a una señora mayor.

set in 
 

begin
 

When the fall (autumn) sets in, leaves turn reddish.
Cuando comienza el otoño, las hojas se vuelven rojizas.

set off














 

1) start on a journey, leave
 

What time did they set off?
¿A qué hora se fueron (de viaje)?

2) start a chain of events
 

The unpopular law set off a series of protests.
La impopular ley desencadenó una serie de protestas.

3) start someone doing something

The comedian set everyone off laughing.
El comediante empezó haciendo reir a todos.

4) contrast with, embellish
 

The pink wall helps to set off those green curtains.
La pared rosada ayuda a destacar esas cortinas verdes.

5) explode
 

Who set the firework off?
¿Quién hizo estallar los fuegos de artificio?

set on

 

order to attack

 

We will set our dogs on any intruders.
Prepararemos a nuestros perros para atacar a cualquier intruso.

set out 
 

start on a journey
 

We set out at daybreak yesterday.
Partimos al alba ayer.

set up




 

1) place in position, erect
 

They have set up a statue to Lennon in the park.
Han colocado un monumento a Lennon en el parque.

2) establish
 

He set up a special group of soldiers to guard him.
Estableció un grupo especial de soldados para protegerlo.

settle down 
 

become contented
in a new job or place

The family soon settled down in India..
La familia se adaptó pronto a la India.

settle for 
 

reluctantly accept
 

Since there were no strawberries, we had to settle for grapes.
Visto que no había fresas nos tuvimos que contentar con uvas.

settle in 
 

move in and become
used to

We will come to visit you after you have both settled in.
Iremos a visitarlos después que se hayan adaptado.

settle up
 

pay one's debts to
 

Mario won the lottery and was able to settle up all his debts.
Mario ganó la lotería y pudo pagar todas sus deuda.

shake out 
 

remove dust or dirt
by shaking

She picked up the blanket and shook the dust out.
Levantó la frazada y le sacudió el polvo.

shout down
 

stop from speaking
by shouting

The crowd shouted the speaker down.
La multitud gritó para que no se escuchara al orador.

show off




 

1) display
 

The hostess showed off her china dishes to the guests.
La anfitriona mostró su vajilla de porcelana a los invitados.

2) act ostentatiously
 

Don't show off so much. Try to be modest.
No te mandes la parte. Trata de ser modesto.

show up
 

arrive
 

I waited for him till noon and he showed up at 3 pm.
Lo esperé hasta el mediodía y apareció a las tres de la tarde.

shrug off
 

dismiss as unimportant
 

They attempted to shrug off their mistake.
Intentaron hacer pasar desapercibido su error.

shut up
 

stop talking (slang)
 

"Shut up and listen to your father", Paul's mother said.
"Cállate y escucha a tu padre", dijo la madre de Paul.

side with
 

support in a dispute
 

That was unfair. Why did you side with him?
Eso no estuvo bien. ¿Por qué te pusiste de su lado?

single out 
 

select from others
 

You have been singled out for a vacation in Barcelona.
Ha sido seleccionado para unas vacaciones en Barcelona.

sit out
sit through 

sit and endure
 

I had to sit out (sit through) the lecture without falling asleep.
Tuve que soportar sentado la conferencia sin dormirme.

sit up
 

not go to bed
 

I sat up all night waiting for you to come back.
Pasé en vela toda la noche esperando que regresaras.

size up
 

assess
 

I quickly sized up his financial situation.
Rápidamente estimé (calculé) su situación financiera.

sleep in
 

sleep too long
 

I'm sorry I'm late for work this morning.: I slept in.
Siento llegar tarde esta mañana: Me quedé dormido.

sleep on
 

continue sleeping
 

She slept on after the phone had rung.
Ella continuó durmiendo después que sonó el teléfono.

slice up
 

cut into slices
 

The baker sliced up the loaf.
El panadero cortó en rebanadas el pan.

slip away


 

go or move quietly
or quickly

 

The party was so boring that Mirtha and I slipped away when nobody was watching.
La fiesta fue tan aburrida que Mirta y yo nos escabullimos cuando nadie miraba.

slow down
 

reduce speed, go more slowly
(separable when transitive)

The driver slowed down at the roundabout.
El conductor redujo la velocidad en la rotonda.

smooth over
 

improve, get rid of
difficulties, problems