the time a truck driver set me down among dark green hills, it was already time to start looking for a place to lay over. upset someone—distress a person: Deceased appeared very irritable upon the morning in question, but witness knew of nothing to upset him. set something on foot • set something on its feet set something on foot—(also: put something on foot) initiate a process or action: The Government intends to set on foot an inquiry into euthanasia. set something on its feet—(also: put something on its feet) make smth. economically self-supporting, especially after a period of difficulties: We want to set some of these local industries on their feet . set the cat among the pigeons • set the fox to keep the geese set the cat among the pigeons—(also: put the cat among the pigeons) do or say smth. that is bound to cause trouble and make people angry: Once again she set the cat among the pigeons , claiming that Michel was lying. set the fox to keep the geese—(also: let the fox guard the hen- house) trust a person with smth. that he is especially likely to misappropriate or abuse: The committee made Hutton treas- urer, that’s setting the fox to keep the geese . set up house • set up housekeeping set up house —start one’s own home: Friends and family saw his decision to set up house in Morocco as eccentric or irre- sponsible. set up housekeeping—said about two people moving in together: There’s a new couch on order—the old one was a gift when we first set up housekeeping here six years ago. settle down in something • settle down to something settle down in something—1. make oneself comfortable in a seat: He made himself a quick meal, poured a drink and settled down in an armchair. 2. establish oneself in a new job, place of residence, etc.: It didn’t seem likely that we should meet again, as Clarence had settled down in the country. settle down to something—give one’s whole attention to smth.: She then took out a novel from her handbag and settled down to reading it. settle for something • settle on something settle for something—agree to accept smth., usually not alto- gether satisfactory: After a good deal of discussion about what they should have, they settled for bacon and eggs. settle on something—come to a decision about smth.: We must now settle on a time and place to meet. settle up with someone • settle with someone settle up with someone—pay a debt, one’s share of the cost, etc. to a person: As it’s payday today … I can settle up with my surprisingly patient landlords. settle with someone—1. punish a person for harm one has suffered (often used as a threat): When you insulted me I prom- ised to settle with you; I did not expect to have the chance so soon. 2. = settle up with someone: Barnum retired from the show business in 1855, but had to settle with his creditors in 1857, and began his old career again. 3. arrive at an agreement: We will settle with your father about the money afterwards; but the things should be ordered immediately. seven come eleven • seven eleven seven come eleven —(Gambling ) the words that a player says in the hope of good luck: Eight hours later, 5 A.M. found me in a fairly empty Flamingo Casino, throwing chips … and screaming for seven come eleven . seven eleven—a convenient store, open from seven in the morning until eleven at night: No woman will ever marry you, and you’ll end up as a bum asking for spare change out- side the Seven Eleven . Seven Days’ Battle, the • Seven Days’ Campaign, the Seven Days’ Battle, the—(U.S. hist.) the battle of James River between the Federals and the Confederates in the American Civil War: Three of the Ford brothers participated in the “Seven Days’ Battle ” in June 1862. Seven Days’ Campaign, the—(hist.) the series of battles in Bohemia concluding in the Battle of Sadowa (1866) in the Austro-Prussian War: He served through the Seven Days Campaign and was given an honorable discharge a year later. sex something • sex up something sex something —(of animals and plants) determine the sex by anatomical examination: The specimen is not sexed , neither is the sex noted on the drawing. sex up something —(sl.) present smth. in a more interesting or lively way (by introducing sex-oriented material): This film took a classic story with lots of potential, put in many great actors, gave them bad dialogue, sexed it up needlessly. shadowy activities • shady activities shadowy activities—activities about which little is known: There was a report last month on the shadowy activities of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. shady activities —activities that are dishonest or illegal: Amy figures out that there is a link between the school’s closure and Richard Packhouse’s shady activities . shake a leg • shake a loose leg shake a leg(coll.) 1. move faster; hurry up: They are waiting outside in the car; let’s shake a leg ! 2. dance: The stage is ready for them, if they like to act or the dancing-room, should they wish to shake a leg . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase swing the leg—(Nautical) evade duty: There was a nau- tical expression “swing the leg ,” an allusion to the pretence of having a damaged leg so as to avoid work. shake a loose leg —(rare) 1. = shake a leg 2: Play, for Heaven’s sake, or you will work yourselves into a nation of automatons! Shake a loose leg to a lively fiddle! 2. (coll.) lead an irregular life; live freely: You’re too much occupied here with your shop: besides, you may shake a loose leg yourself occasionally for all the public knows, eh? shake the pagoda tree • shake the plum tree shake the pagoda tree(UK hist.) make a fortune rapidly in India: Many a Banya or Brahman who had helped to “shake the pagoda tree ” retired quietly to his ancestral village. shake the plum tree—(U.S.) appoint applicants to public offices as a reward for their loyalty to the party in power: As chairman of the Republican Party, Quay “knew how to shake the plum tree ” and spent a lot of money in getting Benjamin Harrison elected president in 1888. Note: Neither expression is related in meaning to the phrase shake someone’s tree—arouse a person to action or reaction; disturb smb.: The lead investigator called the fraudster and shook his tree a bit. The person who was defrauded got her money back. sharp as a needle • sharp as a wet noodle sharp as a needle—(also: sharp as a razor) very intelligent; quick to learn or realize things: The child was as sharp as a needle and soon began to use quite difficult words. set something on foot – 294 –