set off
1.出发, 动身
He proposed to set off immediately.
他建议立即动身。
2.(使)开始; 引起
She had stopped crying but his shouting set her off again.
她已经不哭了, 但是他的大声喊叫使她又哭了起来。
If uncontrolled, the shortage would set off a new rise in meat prices.
如果不加控制, 这种短缺会引起肉价再次上涨。
That set all of them off laughing again.
那又惹得他们哄堂大笑。
3.点燃, 爆炸
Be careful that you don't set the fireworks off by mistake.
当心点, 别弄错了引起那些爆竹爆炸。
The children are setting fireworks off in the garden.
孩子们在花园里燃放烟火。
set out
1.动身, 出发
A visitor arrived just as we were setting out for the airport.
我们正要前往机场时来了一位客人。
2.着手, 开始
The government has set out to make many needed reforms.
政府开始进行许多必要的改革。
3.安排, 组织
They set out the chairs for the meeting in rows of ten.
他们摆好会议的坐椅, 每排十把椅子。
My plans for the firm have been set out in this document.
我为公司制定的各项计划都写在这份文件中了。
set about
1.开始做(某事)
We set about our task at once with great enthusiasm.
我们立刻兴致勃勃地干起来。
The girl attendant has set about cleaning the room.
那位女服务员已开始打扫房间。
2.攻击, 抨击(某人)
He would certainly defend himself if anybody sets about him.
要是有谁攻击他, 他当然会进行自卫的。
In a very forceful speech he set about his critics.
他以有力的发言驳斥了他的批评者。
3.〈非正〉散布(谣言)
Someone is always setting stories about that the Prince is to be married.
有人总是在散布谣言说什么王子要结婚。
set up
1.建立,建造, 创立, 竖立
Plenty of foreign firms have set up factories here.
很多外国公司已在这里开办工厂。
A monument was set up as a memorial to the dead soldiers.
为阵亡将士立了一个纪念碑。
2.准备; 安排
Will you set up the drinks while I look after the party food?
你准备饮料, 我来料理宴会食品好吗?
All the arrangements have been set up for the newspapermen to meet the Queen.
新闻记者谒见女王的所有安排已经就绪。
3.引起, 产生
The crowd set up a shout as the winner neared the post.
优胜者接近终点时, 人群中发出一片喊叫声。
还有很多跟set有关的短语,可以看看
http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/85916585.html