Set off but got no place (4,3)
I believe the answer is:
also ran
'set off' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'got no place' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'got' could be 'ran' (running is a kind of getting) and 'ran' is found in the answer.
'no' could be 'o' (O resembles 0) and 'o' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'als' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for also ran that I've seen before include "failure?" , "no real contender" , "one that didn't win" , "loser" , "last runner?" .)