1
set off
通常指开始一段旅程；可接 for 表示目的地，如 set off for the airport。
We set off early to avoid traffic.
我们早早出发以避免交通拥堵。
出发，启程
setting off — present participle of set off
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
出发，启程
to begin a journey
We set off early to avoid traffic.
我们早早出发以避免交通拥堵。
出发；启程；开始旅行或行程。
To leave; to set out; to begin a journey or trip.
开始；引起；发起。
To begin; to cause; to initiate.
使爆炸；引爆；放(鞭炮等)。
To cause to explode, let off.
使生气；使发怒；使开始抱怨或闷闷不乐等。
To put into an angry mood; to start (a person) ranting or sulking, etc.
set off
Base
原形
sets off
3rd person
第三人称单数
setting off
-ing
现在分词
set off
Past
过去式
set off
Past participle
过去分词
She sets off for work at 7 a.m. every day.
她每天早上七点出发去上班。
They are setting off fireworks in the park.
他们正在公园里放烟花。
The news set off a panic among the residents.
这条消息引起了居民们的恐慌。
短语动词，变位仅变化set部分，set为不规则动词，三单加s，ing双写t，过去式与过去分词不变。
We set off early in the morning to avoid traffic.
我们一大早出发以避免交通堵塞。
The loud noise set off the car alarm.
巨大的噪音触发了汽车警报。
The dark frame sets off the bright colors of the painting.
深色画框衬托出画作的明亮色彩。
通常指开始一段旅程；可接 for 表示目的地，如 set off for the airport。
We set off early to avoid traffic.
我们早早出发以避免交通拥堵。
sth 可以是具体事物或抽象事件，如 set off a chain reaction。
The loud noise set off the car alarm.
巨大的响声触发了汽车警报。
常用于被动结构，表示某物被另一物衬托或突出。
Her dark hair was set off by the white dress.
她的黑发被白色连衣裙衬托得更加醒目。
Not this
We set off our journey at dawn.
Use this
We set off on our journey at dawn.
当‘set off’表示‘出发，启程’时，是不及物短语动词，不能直接接宾语。应加上介词‘on’或‘for’引出目的地或旅程。
Not this
He set off the car and drove away.
Use this
He started the car and drove away.
‘set off’意为‘引起，触发’，并不表示‘启动车辆’。启动车辆的正确动词是‘start’。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
出发前往
We set off for the beach at sunrise.
我们日出时出发前往海滩。
放烟花
People set off fireworks to celebrate the New Year.
人们放烟花庆祝新年。
触发警报
The smoke from the stove set off the smoke alarm.
炉子冒出的烟触发了烟雾报警器。
激怒某人
Her nasty comment set him off and he stormed out.
她恶毒的评论激怒了他，他气冲冲地走了出去。
抵消；弥补
You can set these losses off against your profits.
你可以用这些亏损抵消你的利润。
敲响警钟；引起警觉
The company's falling profits set off alarm bells for investors.
公司利润下滑给投资者敲响了警钟。
使某人生气；使某人激动起来
Any talk about money sets her off.
一谈到钱就会让她激动起来。
引发连锁反应
The announcement set off a chain reaction in the stock market.
这一公告在股市引发了连锁反应。
Use setting off naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想：set(放置)+off(离开)。想象把行李放好就出发；又像按下开关，炮仗脱离手“砰”地爆炸。
语域：neutral 常见场景：旅行出发、日常对话 “set off”表示“出发、启程”时为中性用语，正式与非正式场合都很常用；多用于谈论旅行或行程的开始。
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.