Definition of set up

The origin of the phrase "set up" can be traced back to the early 19th century when it was used in the context of carpentry and construction. At that time, "set up" referred to the process of establishing the position or alignment of a structure or piece of equipment. This could involve leveling and adjusting the components until they were properly aligned and ready for use. The phrase "set up" then began to be used more widely in various contexts, such as in business and finance in the mid-19th century to describe the process of establishing a new business or financial arrangement. In the late 19th century, "set up" also came to mean something different in the context of criminal activity. In this context, "set up" referred to the act of preparing or arranging a situation, often in a way that appeared innocent or normal but was actually intended to result in a criminal act, such as a robbery or sting operation. Since then, "set up" has continued to be used in various contexts, often with different meanings depending on the context, such as in sports to describe setting up a play or in technology to describe setting up a new device or system.