set up — frame someone
phrasal verbC2IELTS 8+neutraloccasional
to make someone appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing by deliberately creating false evidence or circumstances.
Say it like a native
Textbook He was falsely incriminated through fabricated evidence.
Native He was set up — the evidence was planted.
'Set up' is the everyday word for being framed; 'falsely incriminated through fabricated evidence' is legalese.
Pattern: set someone up (for/with something)
In use
- He claimed he was set up by his business rivals and had nothing to do with the fraud.crime
- Some critics argue that the whistleblower was set up by powerful interests in order to discredit her testimony.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ The gang set him for the robbery.
✓ The gang set him up for the robbery.
Don't drop 'up' — 'set someone UP' (frame them).
Common collocations
set someone up— for, framed, the whole thing, deliberately
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B1 senses of 'set up' (to arrange or establish something, or to prepare equipment), this sense involves intentionally making someone appear guilty, usually of a crime, by manipulating evidence or circumstances.
Related
- set up (arrange or establish) — 'set up' also has the more basic meaning 'arrange or establish'; this is the advanced sense.