Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to set pulses racing

to set pulses racing

1 6.0
To make someone feel very excited, often suddenly
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : hacer palpitar el corazón
  • Her stunning performance set pulses racing in the audience.

Examples

  • That new sports car is guaranteed to set pulses racing among enthusiasts.

  • The team's dramatic last-minute goal set pulses racing throughout the stadium.

  • The trailer for the new action film set pulses racing ahead of its release.

  • The thrilling movie set pulses racing from the start!

  • The thrilling roller coaster ride set my heart racing as we sped down the steep drop.

  • The surprise announcement from the CEO set everyone's pulses racing with excitement.

  • Her stunning performance on stage set the audience's pulses racing from the very first note.

Synonyms

to excite
vsto set pulses racing
331 2.7

To make someone feel very happy, interested, or eager

tends to mean a quicker, more intense thrilling effect
to thrill
vsto set pulses racing
201 2.1

To give a sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure

is the same idea but adds vivid bodily, racing sensation
to stir
vsto set pulses racing
131 3.7

To make someone feel a strong emotion

adds sudden intensity and a physical thrill to that emotional change
to get excited
vsto set pulses racing
112 1.0

To feel very eager and happy about something

is about causing a sudden intense thrill rather than becoming excited
to fire up
vsto set pulses racing
  • Informal
70 4.1

Make people feel excited and ready to act

is more about producing a sudden thrilling physical reaction
to ignite
vsto set pulses racing
47 4.4

To cause strong feelings in someone

is similar but usually highlights a sudden thrilling reaction
to rouse
vsto set pulses racing
16 5.1

To make people feel strong emotion and want to act

is more about instant thrilling excitement rather than motivation
to electrify
vsto set pulses racing
14 4.1

To make people feel very excited and want to act

focuses similarly on sudden intensity with a physical thrill
to exhilarate
vsto set pulses racing
12 6.9

To make someone feel very happy and full of energy

leans more toward a sudden thrilling, heart‑racing reaction
to give someone chills
vsto set pulses racing
12 5.8

To cause a sudden feeling of fear or strong excitement that makes someone shiver

is similar but centers on thrilling excitement rather than fear
to enthuse
vsto set pulses racing
7 5.5

To make someone feel excited about something

is stronger, producing a quicker, more intense thrilling feeling
to charge up
vsto set pulses racing
  • Informal
4 4.8

To make people feel excited and ready to act

is similar but stresses a quick thrill rather than general arousal
to hype up
vsto set pulses racing
  • Informal
3 5.6

To make someone feel very excited about something

focuses more on a sudden thrill rather than build-up anticipation
to send shivers down someone's spine
vsto set pulses racing
  • Informal
1 6.0

Cause someone to feel a sudden strong fear or excitement

focuses more specifically on exciting or thrilling the person
to adrenalize
vsto set pulses racing
  • Informal
1 8.4

To cause a sudden rush of energy and excitement in someone

matches the sudden energy but is less tied to hormone response
to ignite passion
vsto set pulses racing
1 5.0

Make someone feel very excited and interested in something

is more about an immediate, short intense thrill than lasting passion
to stir someone's blood
vsto set pulses racing
6.0

To make someone feel strong excitement or deep emotion

is narrower, stressing sudden thrilling excitement rather than deep feeling

Antonyms

calm
52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

to bore
15 1.4

To make someone feel tired or not interested by being dull when you speak

How Excited

to set pulses racing
  • Informal
1 6.0
to electrify
14 4.1
to thrill
201 2.1
to excite
331 2.7
to interest
206 1.0

Surface Forms

set pulses racing infinitive
set pulses racing past
set pulses racing past participle
setting pulses racing present participle
sets pulses racing third person singular

Morphology

set + pulse + race

The phrasing is compositionally transparent: 'set' = cause, 'pulse' = heartbeat, and 'racing' = moving very quickly, so together they yield 'cause the heartbeat to quicken' = cause excitement. This physiological metaphor (heart/pulse racing = excitement) is common across languages and follows straightforward logic, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrase set pulses racing comes from a simple image: when something excites you, your pulses, your heartbeats, start racing and feel very fast. So, set pulses racing means 'to make someone feel very excited'.