set everything aside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "set everything aside" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that someone should temporarily stop considering other matters to focus on something specific. Example: "Before we start the meeting, let's set everything aside and concentrate on the main agenda."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Just set everything aside for a moment.

WikiHow

It is perfectly OK to set everything aside for a day and just absorb the fun of a sports rivalry.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Allow yourself to move towards that creative space you enjoy being in with full permission to just set everything else aside.

Huffington Post

BM: Set aside everything else and just run the numbers.

The Guardian

"It's not easy to set aside everything and play," Reyes said.

The New York Times - Sports

No one is going to set aside everything else post-Fukushima so it's just columnist talk, it's not serious talk.

The Guardian

Mr. Milowitz set aside everything to drive to Chicago to be with Laura, his cat riding along in his Mustang convertible.

The New York Times

"I'm not going to set aside everything because a woman is running," Ms. Farenthold said, adding that the state's tradition of strong women went only so far.

The New York Times

For a moment, set aside everything that might stink about it and think: at least at no point today will the Steelers' James Harrison or the Falcons' Dunta Robinson launch himself full-speed and helmet-first at your head and threaten to turn your brain into something resembling Cream of Wheat.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm not advising you to set aside everything you've been doing and start from square one.

Science Magazine

Sometimes, we think to have a dream we have to set aside everything else in our lives to pursue it.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "set everything aside", ensure the context clearly indicates what the focus should shift to. For instance, "Let's "set everything aside" and concentrate on this critical project deadline."

Common error

Avoid using "set everything aside" when only specific distractions need to be removed. Instead of saying "Set everything aside to work on this report", be more specific: "Turn off notifications and close unnecessary tabs to focus on this report."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set everything aside" functions as an idiomatic expression used to instruct someone to temporarily ignore all other distractions or concerns to concentrate on a specific task or subject. Ludwig examples show it used in various scenarios, from focusing on schoolwork to enjoying a sports rivalry.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

48%

News & Media

42%

Huffington Post

8%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "set everything aside" is a useful phrase to emphasize the need to focus on a specific task or subject by temporarily ignoring other distractions. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While it leans towards a neutral to slightly informal tone, it's widely applicable in various contexts, particularly in news media and how-to guides. Related phrases such as "disregard everything else" and "put everything else on hold" offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure the context makes it clear what the focus should shift to, and avoid using it when only specific distractions need to be removed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disregard everything else

Emphasizes ignoring other concerns to concentrate on something specific.

put everything else on hold

Implies a temporary suspension of other activities.

suspend all other matters

Focuses on the temporary cessation of dealing with other issues.

shelve everything else

Suggests postponing other tasks or considerations.

ignore all distractions

Highlights the act of not paying attention to things that divert focus.

concentrate solely

Focuses on applying all one's attention to a single thing.

prioritize exclusively

Emphasizes giving precedence to one thing above all others.

devote your full attention

Highlights dedicating complete focus to a particular task or subject.

dedicate entirely

Implies giving something your complete and undivided effort or attention.

focus intently

Suggests focusing with great concentration and determination.

FAQs

How can I use "set everything aside" in a sentence?

You can use "set everything aside" to indicate a temporary pause from other activities. For example: "We need to "set everything aside" and address this urgent issue immediately."

What's a good alternative to "set everything aside"?

Alternatives include "disregard everything else", "put everything else on hold", or "suspend all other matters", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "set everything aside"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the need to temporarily stop focusing on other tasks or considerations to concentrate on a specific matter.

Is "set everything aside" formal or informal?

It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it leans towards a more neutral to slightly informal tone. For more formal settings, consider using alternatives like "suspend all other matters".