What does "set off" mean here?
Hi, I come across this phrase "set off" in the novel the Shining:
"You let them lock you in?" Grady's voice registered wellbred surprise. "Oh, dear. A woman half your size and a little boy? Hardly sets you off as being of top managerial timber, does it?"

The context is the phantom in the hotel wants Jack to deliver his son Danny to it and promises him by doing so he may get promoted to the managerial level. But in fact Jack is crazy and ends up getting locked in a pantry by his wife and son. And this is part conversation between Jack and the spirit/phantom.

I am just wondering what "set off" means here? Would you please explain it?

Thank you.

Question

What does "set off" mean here?
Hi, I come across this phrase "set off" in the novel the Shining:
"You let them lock you in?" Grady's voice registered wellbred surprise. "Oh, dear. A woman half your size and a little boy? Hardly sets you off as being of top managerial timber, does it?"

The context is the phantom in the hotel wants Jack to deliver his son Danny to it and promises him by doing so he may get promoted to the managerial level. But in fact Jack is crazy and ends up getting locked in a pantry by his wife and son. And this is part conversation between Jack and the spirit/phantom.

I am just wondering what "set off" means here? Would you please explain it?

Thank you.

Answer

In this context, "sets off" means "makes you seem like" or "proves that you are". Grady is saying that being locked into the closet by Danny and his wife indicates that Jack might not be up to the task of being a manager. It's an amusing way to phrase it.

The phrase "set off" is more often used to mean causing someone to become upset or excited. "Jack really got set off by that guy!"—sort of like you might "set off" a bomb. That's much more common than how it's used here, which seems sort of unusual.

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