Cryptic crossword clue
Set upon course of action, ring up 7

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word WAYLAID

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
W
A
Y
L
A
I
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Set upon" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case set upon = waylaid.
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 WAYLAID mean?

WAYLAID verb
  1. To lie in wait for and attack from ambush.
  2. To accost or intercept unexpectedly.

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