set up

set someone up

to lead-by deception-a person to play a particular role in an event; to arrange an event-usually by deception-so that a specific person suffers the consequences for the event; to frame someone. (See also set someone up (as something).) I had nothing to do with the robbery! I was just standing there. Somebody must have set me up! John isn't the one who started the fight. Somebody set up the poor guy.

See also: set, up

set someone up (in business)

to help establish someone in business; to provide the money someone needs to start a business. My father set my sisters up in business. He helped set them up so he could keep the business in the family.

See also: set, up

set something up 

1. Lit. to put something together; to erect something. My parents bought me a dollhouse, but I had to set it up myself. It took nearly an hour to set up the tent.

2. Fig. to establish or found something. We set up a fund to buy food for the needy. The business owners set a bank up in the small town.

See also: set, up

set something up (with someone)

to make plans for something. John is hard at work setting something up with Bill and Mary. Sally and Tom set up a party for Saturday night.

See also: set, up

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set somebody up

to trick someone into a situation in which it appears they have done something wrong She denied using drugs and claimed she had been set up by the police.

See also: set, up

set up something also set something up

1. to establish or create something The welfare system is set up to encourage people to find work as soon as they can. He set up his practice as an architect in New York City in the 1890s. His father's money was used to set him up in business.

2. to arrange or prepare something They set the meeting up for 9 a.m. tomorrow. We have a little area set up for serving food. They set up the tents next to the river.

See also: set, up