Meaning of set to work | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To begin working.
   idiomatic, intransitive
2. To begin working at.
   idiomatic, intransitive
3. To cause to begin working.
   transitive

Equivalents

Examples

“As soon as he got home, he went to his desk and set⟳ to work⟳.”

“Every day he sets to work⟳ at the new assignments.”

“Accordingly, Mitchell and his fireman, apparently without removing the engine from the up line, set⟳ to work⟳ and disconnected the motion on the defective side, after which Fireman Richardson, who probably had done the lion's share⟳ of the work⟳, betook himself to the refreshment room and had a cup of coffee.”

“As soon as I could, I set⟳ to work⟳ making the entries.”

“The Crescent Road sheds had a favourite locomotive - Stanier 4MT tank engine 42626 (known by Bolton locomen as 'two half-dollars') - and the shed⟳ authorities quietly arranged for it to be put⟳ to one side for a few days, while the ardent schoolboys set⟳ to work⟳ cleaning it.”

“I will immediately set⟳ them to work⟳.”

“I was setting the children to work⟳ cleaning their rooms.”

“I set⟳ the pump to work⟳ getting the water out of the basement.”

“The 13th class were the first Garratts on the line and on arrival were set⟳ to work⟳ on the Villa [sic: Vila] Machado-Umtali section, increasing the train⟳ load⟳ from the 350 tons hauled by the 9th class to 450 tons.”

CEFR level