Set someone on someone else / Set the dogs on someone (Are they British English or American English?
I would like to know if the forms "to set someone on someone else" and "to set the dogs on someone" are British English or American English. As far as I know, they mean "to make an animal or person attack someone." If they are not American English, I would like to know how to say that in American English.

I wonder if "to release the dogs on someone" is American English and mean the same.

Examples:
1. The security guards set their dogs on the intruders.
2. If you do that again, I'll set my big brother on you!
3. Leave now or I’ll set the dogs on you.

Question

Set someone on someone else / Set the dogs on someone (Are they British English or American English?
I would like to know if the forms "to set someone on someone else" and "to set the dogs on someone" are British English or American English. As far as I know, they mean "to make an animal or person attack someone." If they are not American English, I would like to know how to say that in American English.

I wonder if "to release the dogs on someone" is American English and mean the same.

Examples:
1. The security guards set their dogs on the intruders.
2. If you do that again, I'll set my big brother on you!
3. Leave now or I’ll set the dogs on you.

Answer

As an American, I would use "to release the dogs on," in your first example, rather than "set their dogs on."  When I am talking about "setting someone on someone else," I use "sic" more often than "set."  "I'll sic my big brother on you!"  The Oxford English Dictionary does say that "sic...on" is a North American phrase.   It's definitely informal language, and very emotionally loaded.

Answer

The expressions you mention are common here in Australia as well. We follow mostly UK English so I think you will find the expressions are common to all flavours of English.

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