were set to battle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were set to battle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where individuals or groups are prepared or arranged to engage in a conflict or competition. Example: "The two armies were set to battle at dawn, each side eager to claim victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Yomiuri Giants were set to battle the visiting Hanshin Tigers, whose devoted fans made up nearly half of the crowd of about 44,000 in the jam-packed stadium.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Abbott, a Republican, is set to battle Davis in the Texas gubernatorial election in November, 2014.

The Guardian

Last season, Clemens finally was set to battle Pennington for the starting position.

The New York Times - Sports

The Wall Street Journal reports that studios are set to battle for the rights to distribute future films in the long-running spy saga, now that the credits have rolled on the current partnership between the rights holders and studio Sony.

The Guardian - Film

Napoli and Manchester City are set to battle for the services of Sampdoria's Argentine U20 international striker Mauro Icardi, 20.

BBC

Aston Villa, Sunderland and Southampton are set to battle it out for the signature of Manchester United winger Ashley Young, 29.

BBC

Two modern-day tribes with competing claims to Stonehenge are set to join battle this week over the remains of the dead.

Independent

As Tom Rothman, co-chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment, whose 20th Century Fox unit is set to release "Battle of the Smithsonian" on May 22, put it, "The old saying is true: dying is easy, comedy is hard".

The New York Times

With the parent company of Alaska Airlines closing its deal to buy Virgin America, the now fifth-largest domestic carrier is set to do battle to be the dominant airline on the West Coast.

Los Angeles Times

Venezuela's power struggle was set to become a battle of the bands Friday when musicians demanding President Nicolas Maduro allow in humanitarian aid and those supporting his refusal were to sing in rival concerts on both sides of a border bridge where tons of donated food and medicine were stored.

Los Angeles Times

As the end of the season approached Bailey was set to win the battle and a contract extension, while Schwab's tenure would be allowed to expire.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were set to battle" when you want to convey a sense of anticipation and imminent conflict or competition. This phrase is suitable for both literal and figurative scenarios.

Common error

Ensure that the tense of the auxiliary verb "were" matches the subject. Using "was set to battle" with a plural subject is a common mistake.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were set to battle" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of preparedness for conflict or competition. Ludwig shows this usage across various contexts, describing both literal and figurative battles.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sports

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were set to battle" is a verb phrase used to describe a state of readiness for conflict or competition, as confirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically sound and understandable, this phrase is considered rare in contemporary English. Its primary function is to convey anticipation and imminent confrontation, suitable for various contexts ranging from News & Media to Sports. Ludwig also provides several alternatives, such as "were poised to fight" and "were ready to clash", for diversifying your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were poised to fight

Emphasizes the imminence of the conflict; suggests a state of readiness and tension.

were ready to clash

Highlights the anticipation of a physical or metaphorical confrontation.

were prepared to contend

Formal alternative, suggesting a readiness to compete or argue.

were about to engage

Focuses on the very near future and the initiation of the conflict.

were on the verge of war

Implies a more significant conflict, suggesting a critical point before hostilities.

were scheduled to compete

Highlights the planned or organized nature of the confrontation.

were lined up to fight

Suggests a literal or figurative alignment in preparation for conflict.

were in a position to struggle

Suggests a predetermined situation where a conflict or competition is inevitable.

were getting ready to compete

Less formal, emphasizes the process of preparing for a competition.

were destined to fight

Suggests that the conflict is predetermined or inevitable.

FAQs

What does "were set to battle" mean?

The phrase "were set to battle" means that individuals or groups were prepared and ready to engage in a conflict, competition, or significant disagreement.

What can I say instead of "were set to battle"?

You can use alternatives like "were poised to fight", "were ready to clash", or "were prepared to contend" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was set to battle"?

The correctness depends on the subject. Use "was set to battle" with singular subjects and "were set to battle" with plural subjects. For example, "The army was set to battle" vs. "The armies were set to battle".

How formal is the phrase "were set to battle"?

The phrase "were set to battle" is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in news reports, historical accounts, and even some informal contexts. More formal alternatives include phrases like "were prepared to contend".