The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word PITCHING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
P
I
T
C
H
I
N
G
More clues leading to the result PITCHING
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "setting up" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case setting up = pitching.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PITCHING mean?
PITCHING verb- To cover or smear with pitch.
- To darken; to blacken; to obscure.
- To throw.
- To throw (the ball) toward a batter at home plate.
- To play baseball in the position of pitcher.
- To throw away; discard.
- To promote, advertise, or attempt to sell.
- To deliver in a certain tone or style, or with a certain audience in mind.
- To assemble or erect (a tent).
- To fix or place a tent or temporary habitation; to encamp.
- To move so that the front of an aircraft or boat goes alternatively up and down.
- To play a short, high, lofty shot that lands with backspin.
- To bounce on the playing surface.
- (of snow) To settle and build up, without melting.
- To alight; to settle; to come to rest from flight.
- (with on or upon) To fix one's choice.
- To plunge or fall; especially, to fall forward; to decline or slope.
- (of an embankment, roadway) To set, face, or pave with rubble or undressed stones.
- (of a price, value) To set or fix.
- (of a card) To discard for some gain.
- To produce a note of a given pitch.
- To fix or set the tone of.
- The act of throwing or casting.
- The rough paving of a street to a grade with blocks of stone.
- A facing of stone laid upon a bank to prevent wear by tides or currents.