set the tone

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set the tone

if something someone says or does sets the tone for an event or activity, it establishes the way that event or activity will continue, especially the mood of the people involved (often + for ) He was furious when she arrived late, and that set the tone for the whole evening.

See also: set, tone

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The men who set the tone in conversation- Count Rostopchin, Prince Yuri Dolgorukov, Valuev, Count Markov, and Prince Vyazemski- did not show themselves at the Club, but met in private houses in intimate circles, and the Moscovites who took their opinions from others- Ilya Rostov among them- remained for a while without any definite opinion on the subject of the war and without leaders. War and Peace by Tolstoy, Leo View in context Mawmsey's friendly jocoseness in questioning him which had set the tone of Lydgate's reply. Middlemarch by Eliot, George View in context			set on set on fire set one back on heels set one on feet set out set out stall set out to set out to do set over set price set right set sail set sail for some place set sights set sights on set straight set teeth on edge set the agenda set the ball rolling set the pace set the record straight set the scene set the scene for set the stage for set the table set the tone set the wheels in motion set the world on fire set to set to do set to music set to work set tongues wagging set type set up set up against set up as set up for life set up housekeeping set up shop set up shop somewhere set upon settle settle a score settle a score with settle affairs settle down settle down to settle for settle hash settle in			set the cat among the pigeons set the cat among the pigeons set the cat among the pigeons set the cat among the pigeons Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun set the date set the pace set the pace set the pace set the pace set the pace Set the Record Straight Set the Record Straight Set the Record Straight Set the Record Straight Set the Record Straight set the scene set the scene for set the seal on set the seal on set the seal on set the seal on set the seal on set the seal on set the stage for set the stage for set the stage for set the stage for set the stage for set the table set the tone set the wheels in motion Set the World On Fire Set theorist Set theorist set theory set theory Set Theory (disambiguation) Set Theory (disambiguation) SEt Theory Language set to set to set to set to set to set to do set to music set to music set to music set to rights set to rights set to rights set to rights set to rights set to work set to work set to work set tongues wagging set too high an estimate set top Set top box

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