to make someone suddenly angry or upset · to trigger an emotional outburst in someone
This expression is perfect when you want to describe how a specific action, comment, or situation can cause someone to react with sudden, intense anger or upset. 🤯 It's often used to explain why someone suddenly became emotional, sometimes unexpectedly!
💡 **Pro Tip!** 'To set someone off' usually implies a strong, sudden negative emotional reaction, most commonly anger or frustration, but it can also be used for other intense emotions like sadness. For example, 'The old photo album set her off, and she started crying.' 😢 You can also use 'What set him off?' to ask what caused someone's outburst.
When would you most likely use 'to set someone off'? A. When you want to politely ask someone to start a presentation. B. When you want to describe something that makes someone suddenly angry or upset. C. When you want to encourage someone to relax and calm down.