| 释义 |
set-to
Pl. set-tos (-to's); incorrectly sets-to.
[f. vbl. phr. set to: see set v.1 152.]
†1. A talking-to, dressing-down. Obs. rare—1.
1774F. Burney Early Diary (1889) I. 313, I gave her a good set-too just now.
2. a. orig. Pugilism. The action of ‘setting to’ (set v.1 152 f. (b)); hence, a bout or round; a pugilistic encounter or boxing match. Also, a bout, engagement, or match at some other sport.
1743Broughton's Rules in Egan Boxiana (1830) I. 51 Every fresh set-to after a fall, or being parted from the rails. 1789Chron. in Ann. Reg. 199/2 The set-to was prodigiously fine, and after a few feints on each side, Ryan put in the first blow. 1818Sporting Mag. (N.S.) III. 31 They will exhibit two grand set-to's in boxing. 1821Egan Boxiana (1830) I. 67 Taylor died in three months after this set-to. 1824Scott St. Ronan's xxxi, Gentlemen of the fancy hastening to a set-to. 1882H. De Windt Equator 41 A rattling set-to at lawn tennis. 1899A. Dobson Paladin Philanthr. xii, [He] proposed a preliminary set-to with the gloves.
b. gen. and fig. A fight, contest. Also, in weakened sense: an argument, a heated debate.
1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxiii, Signor Verezzi is always losing..and Signor Orsino wins from him,..and they have had several hard set-to's about it. 1816J. Scott Vis. Paris App. (ed. 5) 333 There were many set-to's of dogs, chiefly mastiffs. 1819Scott Let. in Lockhart (1837) IV. viii. 253 My stomach is now getting confirmed, and I have great hopes the bout is over; it has been a dreadful set-to. 1829Brockett N.C. Words (ed. 2), Set-to, an argument, a strong contest, a warm debate. 1833Marryat P. Simple lv, Every gun was ready,..and every soul..was anxious for the set-to. 1881Jefferies Wood Magic I. ii. 42 The starlings on the chimney began to quarrel, and had a terrible set-to. 1894Fenn Real Gold xii, Didn't you ever have a set to at school? 1898Lloyd George Let. 25 Dec. (1973) 116 We have had several sets to over church matters & female suffrage & we hit without sparing. 1912Ld. Fisher Let. 2 Aug. in R. H. Bacon Life Ld. Fisher (1929) II. xvi. 155 At the Defence Committee yesterday..we had a regular set-to with Lloyd George. 1976Nichols & Armstrong Workers Divided ii. 135, I like nothing better than a good set-to with a good shop steward.
c. An attack or ‘go’ (at); dial. a drinking-bout.
1801Southey Lett. (1856) II. 191 There are materials before me for another set-to at the Evangelicals. 1813W. Dunlap Mem. G. F. Cooke I. iv. 63, I doubt not that his dinner with the Irish manager was a roaring set-to, a full and convincing proof of what is called Irish hospitality. 1818Blackw. Mag. III. 407 The dinner much invited a set-to. 1828Life Planter Jamaica 358 His noise soon procured him materials for a set-to at sangaree.
3. Racing. (See quot. 1842 and set v.1 152 f (c).)
1840Spirit of Times 9 May 115 For two miles he trailed, keeping his horse in position for a set-to in the last mile. 1842C. J. Apperley Life Sportsman xvi. 329 The struggle of the last few yards between two horses very nearly equal—which we call the set-to. 1894Field 9 June 829/1 After a tremendous set-to, Haut Brion beat her by three-quarters of a length. |