set the table vs specify

set the table

verb
  • To make a future outcome possible. 

  • To arrange plates, etc. for a meal. 

specify

verb
  • To bring about a specific result. 

  • To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition. 

  • To include in a specification. 

How often have the words set the table and specify occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )