set out one's stall

UK/ˌsɛt‿aʊt wʌnz ˈstɔːl/US/ˌsɛt‿aʊt wʌnz ˈstɔl/US, cot caught merger/-ˈstɑl/

verb

To make publicly clear one's position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do.

“John has obviously set out his stall for the Green Party.”

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Meanings

verbset out one's stall (third-person singular simple present sets out one's stall, present participle setting out one's stall, simple past and past participle set out one's stall)

present singular third person sets out one's stall · participle present setting out one's stall

  1. UKidiomaticintransitiveTo make publicly clear one's position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do.

    John has obviously set out his stall for the Green Party.

    1 more example

    This interview is at RDG [the Rail Delivery Group]'s request: it wants to set out its stall for the most challenging of years ahead.

    2021 January 27, Paul Clifton, “What is the Future of the RDG?”, in Rail, number 923, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 40
  2. UKidiomaticintransitiveTo decide to do something.
  3. UKidiomaticintransitiveTo do something which creates a favourable impression.
  4. UKidiomaticintransitivehobbiesTo (decide to) play (especially to defend) in a determined manner.

Origin

Probably a reference to someone setting out a stall (“bench or table for the sale of merchandise; small open-fronted shop”) and publicly displaying the goods they intend to sell.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish asettua jollekin kannalle, tehdä kantansa selväksi
  • asettua jollekin kannalleto make publicly clear one’s position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do
  • tehdä kantansa selväksito make publicly clear one’s position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do
  • päättää tehdäto decide to do something
  • tehdä vaikutusto do something which creates a favourable impression
  • yrittää antaa hyvä vaikutelmato do something which creates a favourable impression
  • puolustaa päättäväisestito (decide to) play (especially to defend) in a determined manner
Polish wykładać swoje racje, wyłożyć swoje racje
  • wykładać swoje racjeto make publicly clear one’s position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do
  • wyłożyć swoje racjeto make publicly clear one’s position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do
  • decydować się nato decide to do something
  • zdecydować się nato decide to do something
  • wykazywać sięto do something which creates a favourable impression
  • wykazać sięto do something which creates a favourable impression
  • postawić się muremto (decide to) play (especially to defend) in a determined manner

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with set out one's stall

allsmallcallpauloverallfallhallwallinstallmalltallMontrealrecallNepalSenegalcrawlhaulwaterfallstallsauloverhaulDonegalshawlsprawl
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

set out one's stall. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20out%20one's%20stall

MLA

“set out one's stall.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20out%20one's%20stall. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “set out one's stall,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20out%20one's%20stall.

Source: set out one's stall on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.