to set off a chain reaction
3
4.0
- phrasal verb
:
desencadenar una reacción en cadena
- Her comment set off a chain reaction of laughter among the audience during the presentation.
- set off a chain reaction that led
Examples
-
The child continues and sets off a chain reaction of fussing and crying.
Academic text (2006) -
There was no way to ask her without setting off a chain reaction that Fred didn't want to risk.
Fiction book (1995) -
That text set off a chain reaction that eventually led to several students being called to the office.
Blog text (28) -
The Housing Bubble collapse set off a chain reaction that spread around the world.
Blog text (26) -
That demonstration set off a chain reaction at 28 stores across 12 states, with the movement intensifying in recent days.
Blog text (33) -
Any pressurised explosion to the reactor module will set off a chain reaction that will destroy the entire station.
-
It is an aesthetic time bomb that could set off a chain reaction of unpredictable responses.
Academic text (1990) -
Dom Jacques's mouth fell open, and he let out a short hoot that began the rumble of his laugh, which set off a chain reaction with everyone in the room.
Fiction book (2000) -
The unexpected news set off a chain reaction of events that led to major changes in the organization.
-
One small mistake in the experiment set off a chain reaction, resulting in significant discoveries in the field.
Synonyms
154
3.4
To cause something to start, often an idea or strong feeling
131
3.1
To cause something to start or happen
25
3.5
To make something begin to move or happen
1
4.9
Start a series of actions that lead to later changes
1
5.1
To cause something to start suddenly
Antonyms
How Triggering
Surface Forms
Morphology
set + off + a + chain + reaction
The meaning 'to cause a series of related events' is directly derivable from combining 'set' (to initiate) with the particle 'off' (forming the phrasal verb 'set off' = to trigger) and from 'chain reaction' (a linked series of responses). This is a compositional and cross-linguistically common construction (e.g., 'provocar una reacción en cadena', 'déclencher une réaction en chaîne'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the overall meaning.
Etymology
Set off a chain reaction comes from the clear image of starting one thing that makes many things follow, like lighting a fuse you set off or pushing the first domino so the linked pieces fall as a chain reaction. So, it means 'to cause a series of related events in which each event triggers the next'.