The seriousness of his opening statement 'set the tone' for/of the meeting. [=his opening statement established that the meeting would be serious]
('Brit') I keep getting the 'engaged tone'. [=('US') 'busy signal'; the sound which indicates that the telephone line is already being used]
People will be more likely to listen to you if you 'tone down' your language a little.
(..) after midnight, it'll be a criminal offence to store any recording or images of the event. They're doing an announcement to warn people off even watching, some sonic tone that causes nausea. '..When public opinion has very much hardened, 'following the delivery of the princess's severed finger. (..)2011 TvShow: Black Mirror Title: The National Anthem Season: 1 Episode 1
(..) We're not a chat room! It's on CNN and Fox. And MSNBC, Al Jazeera, NHK... God! This planet! OK, Sarah, cover the snatch itself. Simon, set tone with Standards. We need to explain this without viewers sicking up their Weetabix. Ken, the internet, new paradigm, Twitter, Arab spring, all that. (..)2011 TvShow: Black Mirror Title: The National Anthem Season: 1 Episode 1