set out

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "set out" can mean to begin (a journey or task), to leave something sitting out, or to display items like dishes or food. It’s an old, flexible phrase that still feels natural in daily talk.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I definitely use 'set out' often. And not just for traveling - 'Don’t eat that, it set out all night.'

Pronunciation

[set-OWT]

Meaning & Usage

- Begin a Journey (verb)

Earl:

What time’d you leave?

Estel:

I set out ‘bout sunup.

- Begin a Task or Goal (verb)

Mae:

I set out to bake a cake"

Ruby:

"but you ended up with a pie.

- Left Sitting Out (verb phrase)

Ruby:

Don’t eat that.

Earl:

Why not?

Ruby:

It set out all night.

- Display or arrange (verb)

Mae:

I set out the good dishes for Sunday dinner.

Earl:

Looks real nice.

other spellings: set out, set-out, started (related), left out, put out, and displayed

★ "Set out" carries a sense of intent when it means to begin - but in the kitchen it can mean food left too long or dishes neatly displayed. Context tells the story. ★

Origin

From Old English "settan" (to cause to sit, put in place). By the 1500s, "set out" was used for "begin a journey," and other senses like "leave sitting out" and "display" grew naturally from the same root.

Notes

Still common in rural speech. "Set out" for starting something shows up in storytelling, while the food senses are heard in kitchens everywhere. Displaying dishes or setting things out for company remains a strong cultural use.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it plain and clipped: "set out." In mountain talk, it often runs together quick: "set-out."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Run Off

Common Questions

Is "set out" the same as "head out"?

Similar, but "set out" is older and more formal or story-like.

Do people still say it today?

Yes - you’ll hear it in rural communities, kitchens, and family stories.

Can it mean "display" (like "set out the dishes")?

Yes - it often means to put out or arrange dishes, food, or items for use.

Is it only Appalachian?

No - it’s general English, but Appalachia kept all these senses alive in everyday talk while they faded elsewhere.