phrasal verb · neutral
set upon
UK/sɛt əˈpɒn/US/sɛt əˈpɑn/set a·PON
speakingtask1
attack someone suddenly, physically or verbally; be set on/upon by others
Examples
“Late at night he was set upon by a group of youths and robbed.”
“The critic was set upon by readers after the controversial review.”
“Witnesses saw the stranger being set upon near the station.”
Band 8 sentence
“When the activist returned home, he was set upon by unknown assailants and required hospital treatment.”
Collocations
- be set upon by
- set upon someone
Word family
set upon phrasal verbsets upon phrasal verb (3rd sg)set upon (past: set upon) phrasal verb (past)
Common mistakes
set on→set upon
set up on→set upon
Say it for a higher band
5attack→6assault→7+set upon
Synonyms
attack
assault
Easily confused
assault
“He was arrested on suspicion of assault.”
Related words
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