dead set

[ ded set ded set ]

adjective

1. firmly decided or determined; resolved:

   His family was dead set against the marriage.

noun

1. a serious or determined attempt; firm effort:

   He made a dead set at winning the championship.

2. Hunting. the stiff posture assumed by a hunting dog in indicating the presence and location of game.

dead set

adverb

1. absolutely

   he is dead set against going to Spain

noun

1. the motionless position of a dog when pointing with its muzzle towards game

adjective

1. (of a hunting dog) in this position

interjection

1. slang.
   an expression of affirmation

   dead set, I worked from dawn to dusk

Word History and Origins

Origin of dead set¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

Cruz has said for months that he would run a competitive race, dead set on not repeating the surprisingly close challenge by former U.S.

From Salon

“My wife and I are both dead set that this is an absolute wrong, and we will fight this to the death,” Scott Anderson, who owns a golf course in Gilbert, Ariz., told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Rebecca Masri, founder of luxury travel app Little Emperors, has a solution for those dead set on returning to old favorites despite prices, weather and crowds: Go after Labor Day.

From Seattle Times

A beef that is so dead set on proving who can out-masculine one another attempts to prove that through who has hurt women the worst in the most grotesque way.

From Salon

Sometimes a happily ever after isn't the right fit for a movie so dead set on taking so much commentary from reality.

From Salon

Related Words

• adamant
• austere
• definite
• exact
• fixed
• hard-line
• harsh
• inflexible
• intransigent
• rigorous
• solid
• stern
• stringent
• uncompromising
• unyielding