Meaning trap
set aside
annul legally
to officially cancel or annul a legal decision, judgment, or order so that it is no longer valid.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to officially cancel or annul a legal decision, judgment, or order so that it is no longer valid.
'set aside' also has the more basic meaning 'save for a particular purpose'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The court set aside the previous ruling due to new evidence.
In some cases, a conviction may be set aside if it is proven that the defendant did not receive a fair trial.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The judge set away the conviction.
Say: The judge set aside the conviction.
The legal phrase is 'set aside' (annul), not 'set away'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Set aside' is the standard legal term for annulling a judgment; 'invalidated' is a loose paraphrase.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
set aside + ruling
- the verdict
- the conviction
- the judgment
- the order
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- set aside (save for a particular purpose) — 'set aside' also has the more basic meaning 'save for a particular purpose'; this is the advanced sense.