crew finished second in their division, are seeking new mem- bers. senior resident—(U.S.) a medical graduate who has com- pleted an internship and serves in residence at a hospital: Never disturb the senior resident when he is on his rounds, unless the place is on fire. sensible about something • sensible of something sensible about something—showing a reasonable attitude towards smth.: Market research has shown us that people are far more health conscious and far more sensible about what they drink. sensible of something —aware of smth.; realizing smth.: How natural for a woman sensible of her humble circumstances not to wish to unveil the total intimacy of her house to passing strangers. sensitive about something • sensitive to something sensitive about something—easily offended or worried about smth.: You really must stop being so sensitive about your accent. sensitive to something —1. susceptible or vulnerable to smth.: If the enamel of your tooth has worn to where the sensitive part of the tooth is exposed, it can make your tooth sensitive to cold. 2. showing a deep understanding of other people’s feelings, difficulties, etc.: We’re trying to make people more sensitive to the problems faced by working mothers. separate the men from the boys • separate the sheep from the goats separate the men from the boys—separate those who have great skill, courage, etc., from those whose abilities are more limited: The first part of the race is not really difficult; it’s the final three miles over rough and hilly ground that will separate the men from the boys . separate the sheep from the goats—(also: separate the wheat from the chaff ) separate the good and the bad persons: What the government needed was a new leader who would separate the sheep from the goats and show the public that dishonesty would no longer be tolerated. serve one’s time • serve time serve one’s time—1. do one’s service in the armed forces: I wish I could serve my time in the army; I would gladly serve of my own free will. 2. work as an apprentice for a fixed period of time: I thought I was a man and not a sniveling canting apprentice angel serving his time in a vale of tears. 3. serve a prison sentence: Prisoners might serve their time in quarries, which would be turned into labor camps. serve time—1. shape one’s behavior so as to fit the dominant pattern of one’s times: We always wait till the last moment to declare our policy. Gives the impression that we serve time . 2. = serve one’s time 3: Since it was known that Brown had once served time , it was often difficult for him to find work. 3. work at a particular task, especially an undesirable one: We are enthusiastic about what we do, and we are driven to make a difference, not just serve time . See also: time service / timeserving. set a stone rolling • set the ball rolling set a stone rolling—(also: set the stone rolling ) start smth. which may lead to serious or unanticipated consequences: He used to treat the opium abuse as the ancestors’ tradition. Any- way, this set a stone rolling , and a tiny seed of a big misfortune was planted… Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase rolling stone—a wanderer; an unsettled person: He pro- ceeded to explain that Clyde had ever been a rolling stone — one who preferred to wander here and there. set the ball rolling —(also: get the ball rolling ) start or initiate smth.: Since Malthus set the ball rolling , public opinion has undergone profound metamorphoses. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the nom- inal compound log-rolling—(sl.) mutual assistance in political or other action (used showing disapproval): Politics should never have been allowed to degenerate into a game of log-rolling . set one’s mind on something • set one’s mind to something set one’s mind on something—wish for smth. strongly; be determined about smth.: We’ve definitely set our minds on a holiday in France this year. set one’s mind to something—(also: put one’s mind to some- thing ) devote a lot of attention to a task: Hata set his mind to the study of Japanese policies toward the Asiatic continent. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase set someone in mind of something—cause a person to remem- ber smth.: That tune always sets me in mind of a fine summer day. set one’s seal to something • set the seal on something set one’s seal to something—(also: put one’s seal to something) give one’s authority to smth.: If I set my seal to this course of action, I trust to you to see it carried through. set the seal on something—(also: put the seal on something) bring smth. to an end in a suitable way; formally confirm smth.: This international award has set the seal on a long and distinguished career. set one’s teeth • set someone’s teeth on edge set one’s teeth—show deep resolution in the face of pain, opposition, etc.: Erik set his teeth when the memories came flooding back, bursting their hastily constructed dams. set someone’s teeth on edge—said of smth. extremely unpleas- ant getting on a person’s nerves: The sight of that man eating with his knife sets my teeth on edge . set someone back on his feet • set someone back on his heels set someone back on his feet—(also: put someone back on his feet) 1. make smb.’s position or means of living secure again: Count Pückler went to England in search of a rich heiress who would set him back on his feet financially. 2. (of medicine, etc.) cure a person: Right now she couldn’t even face the thought of the long drive home … but a short rest would set her back on her feet again. set someone back on his heels—(coll.) take aback or disconcert a person: First, the question set me back on my heels , as I felt the sudden shift of responsibility onto my shoulders. But then it excited me. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase set someone back—1. cause a person to put smth. off or get be- hind schedule: Hurricane Charley has set us back by a week, so our summer fun program extends well into September. 2. (coll.) cause smb. to pay out or to lose a sum of money: Working professionals might meet with an unforeseen accident that might set them back by thousands of dollars. set someone up • upset someone set someone up—1. (coll.) make a person feel better: You need a holiday to set you up again after all that hard work. 2. help a person start as someone in business, etc.: His father lent him some money to set him up as a shoemaker. 3. (often Passive) deliberately cause a person to receive blame, punishment, etc.: I’m not to blame really; I’ve been set up . Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase set someone down—allow a person to leave a vehicle: By – 293 – set someone up