Dictionary

set out one's stall en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌsɛt‿aʊt wʌnz ˈstɔːl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsɛt‿aʊt wʌnz ˈstɔl/ (General-American)
• /-ˈstɑl/ (General-American, cot-caught-merger)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

Probably a reference to someone setting out a stall (“bench or table for the sale of merchandise; small open-fronted shop”) and publicly displaying the goods they intend to sell.

Meanings

1. (UK, idiomatic, intransitive) To make publicly clear one's position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do.
   • John has obviously set out his stall for the Green Party.
   • This interview is at RDG [the Rail Delivery Group]'s request: it wants to set out its stall for the most challenging of years ahead. 2021 January 27, Paul Clifton, “What is the Future of the RDG?”, in Rail, number 923, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 40:
2. (UK, idiomatic, intransitive) To decide to do something.
3. (UK, idiomatic, intransitive) To do something which creates a favourable impression.
4. (UK, idiomatic, intransitive) To (decide to) play (especially to defend) in a determined manner.

Forms

Relateds

hang out one's shingle · whelk stall · set up shop

Translations (14)

fi yrittää antaa hyvä vaikutelma (to do something which creates a favourable impression) · pl zdecydować się na (to decide to do something) · pl wyłożyć swoje racje (to make publicly clear one’s position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do) · pl postawić się murem (to (decide to) play (especially to defend) in a determined manner) · pl decydować się na (to decide to do something) · fi puolustaa päättäväisesti (to (decide to) play (especially to defend) in a determined manner) · pl wykazywać się (to do something which creates a favourable impression) · pl wykładać swoje racje (to make publicly clear one’s position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do) · fi tehdä kantansa selväksi (to make publicly clear one’s position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do) · gl expor á venda (to make publicly clear one’s position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do) · fi tehdä vaikutus (to do something which creates a favourable impression) · fi päättää tehdä (to decide to do something) · fi asettua jollekin kannalle (to make publicly clear one’s position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do) · pl wykazać się (to do something which creates a favourable impression)