dead set

See also: deadset and dead-set

English

Alternative forms

• dead-set

Noun

dead set (plural dead sets)

1. (hunting) The rigid pose a hunting dog assumes when pointing out game to a hunter.

   The judge at the dog show took points off the Irish setter's dead set because its right ear twitched a few times.

2. A fixed or stationary condition arising from obstacle or hindrance; a deadlock.

   to be at a dead set

3. (figuratively, by extension) A determined effort.

   I might not graduate first in my class, but I'll make a dead set at it.

4. A pointed and persistent attack on a person.
   • 2018, Frank O'Connor, The Big Fellow: Michael Collins and the Irish Revolution:

     The result was that everyone made a dead set on Collins. It was the same in conversation. When he put his head in everyone turned on him. He was roared down unmercifully, with the inevitable result that he lost his temper.

Adjective

dead set (comparative more dead set, superlative most dead set)

1. Unswervingly dedicated; resolutely determined.

   Synonym: hell-bent

   If John is dead set on marrying Catherine, his parents' objection will only provoke a falling out.

   The governor is dead set against the concealed weapons permit legislation and will veto it even if it costs her the re-election.

   • 2018 September 11, Rush Limbaugh, “Hurricane Florence Heads for the Carolinas”, in The Rush Limbaugh Show‎ (radio), archived from the original on 17 April 2019:

     There are people here who are dead set on convincing everybody this hurricane is the result of climate change.

   • 2025 October 11, Sylvie Kaufmann, “How domestic deadlock brought Macron back to earth”, in FT Weekend, page 9:

     On Monday, he tasked his third prime minister in 12 months, Sébastien Lecornu, to try again to find common ground between political parties dead set against doing so.

2. (Australia, colloquial) Complete and utter; total.

   He is a dead set fool.

Anagrams

• deadest, sedated, steaded