phrasal verb · informal
set one's heart on
UK/sɛt wʌnz hɑːt ɒn/US/sɛt wʌnz hɑrt ɑn/set·one's·HEART·on
speakingtask2
to strongly desire or be determined to have or do something
Examples
“She had set her heart on studying abroad since high school.”
“If you set your heart on something, be prepared to work hard for it.”
“He set his heart on buying a small cottage by the sea.”
Band 8 sentence
“He set his heart on pursuing medicine, despite his family's doubts and financial constraints.”
Collocations
- set your heart on doing something
- set one's heart on a goal
Word family
set one's heart on (v) verb phrasehave one's heart set on (idiom) idiom
Common mistakes
set his heart to→set his heart on
set heart on→set his/her heart on
Say it for a higher band
5want→6be determined to→7+set one's heart on
Synonyms
be determined
aspire to
Easily confused
be determined to
“She was determined to finish the marathon despite the pain.”
Related words
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