set (oneself) up as (something)

phrasal verb

set (oneself) up as (something); setting (oneself) up as (something); sets (oneself) up as (something)

1

: to try to make people believe that one is (something)

He sets himself up as a defender of the people, but he's really only interested in getting more power.

2

: to start one's own business

She set herself up as a wedding planner.

Examples of set (oneself) up as (something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These processes were set up as temporary in nature, a source told ABC News, to allow the beneficiaries to work and provide them the time and opportunity to pursue avenues for immigration benefits or humanitarian relief if eligible such as, for example, asylum or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). —Luke Barr, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2024

Borges and Me has been set up as a co-production between the U.K., Belgium, and The Netherlands. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Oct. 2024

For that matter, the entire drama is set up as a mystery and, as its details unfold, agonies that have remained long hidden are brought to light. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2024

The former president’s comments appeared to be off the cuff, prompted only by the John Deere tractors that were set up as the backdrop of the event. —Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2024