fire Idiom, Proverb
add fuel to the fire
all fired up
draw fire
draw their fire
fight fire with fire
fire
fire away
fire someone
fired up
from the frying pan into the fire
irons in the fire
keep the home fires burning
on fire
out of the frying pan and into the fire
play with fire
set fire
set the world on fire
spread like wildfire
start a fire under him
the fat hit the fire
too many irons in the fire
all-fired
catch fire
Dry grass catches fire easily．干草容易着火。
fire off
No sooner had the speaker finished than a person in the audience fired off many questions at him．演讲者刚讲完，一个听众一连向他提了许多问题。
His answers were fired off even more quickly than the questions had been．他一个问题接一个问题地回答，其速度比提问者还要快。
fire up
Don't fire up like that． No one meant to hurt your feelings．不要这样发火，谁也没有要存心伤害你的感情。
He fired up as soon as he saw me．他一看见我就发火。
This old lady fires up at the least thing．这老太太为一点小事就会发火。
go through fire and water
These heroes have gone through fire and water for the revolutionary cause．这些英雄为了革命事业赴汤蹈火。
He said that he would go through fire and water to find out the truth of that matter．他说为了查明那件事的真相，他将不顾个人安危。
hang fire
He pulled the trigger，but the gun hung fire and the enemy escaped．他扣动扳机，但枪打不响，敌人跑了。
2．be slow in beginning；be delayed延迟；耽搁；进展缓慢
Our plan for organizing a picnic hung fire because of the bad weather．因为天气不好，我们组织去野餐的计划搁下来了。
The scheme for developing the area has hung fire for two years for lack of fund．发展这个地区的计划因资金短缺已拖延了两年。
set fire to
The sparks set fire to the carpet．火花燃着了地毯。
NO one knows who set fire to the building．没人知道是谁放火烧了那栋楼。
set on fire
Be careful with the candle，you will set those curtains on fire．当心蜡烛，你会把帘子烧着的。
Where there's smoke there's fire
Idiom(s): Where there's smoke there's fireTheme: EVIDENCE
A proverb meaning that some evidence of a problem probably indicates that there really is a problem.
• There is a lot of noise coming from the classroom. There is probably something wrong. Where there's smoke there's fire.
• I think there is something wrong at the old house on the corner. The police are there again. Where there's smoke there's fire.
under fire
Idiom(s): under fireTheme: ATTACK
during an attack.
• There was a scandal in city hall, and the mayor was forced to resign under fire.
• John is a good lawyer because he can think under fire.
out of the frying pan into the fire
Idiom(s): out of the frying pan into the fireTheme: WORSEN
from a bad situation to a worse situation. (Often with jump.)
• When I tried to argue about my fine for a traffic violation, the judge charged me with contempt of court. I really went out of the frying pan into the fire.
• I got deeply in debt. Then I really got out of the frying pan into the fire when I lost my job.
open fire
Idiom(s): open fire (on sb)Theme: BEGINNINGS
to start (doing something, such as asking questions or criticizing). (Informal. Also literal = to begin shooting at someone.)
• The reporters opened fire on the mayor.
• When the reporters opened fire, the mayor was smiling, but not for long.
like a house on fire
Idiom(s): like a house on fire AND like a house afireTheme: SPEED
rapidly and with force. (Folksy.)
• The truck came roaring down the road like a house on fire.
• The crowd burst through the gate like a house afire.
hold one's fire
Idiom(s): hold one's fireTheme: CRITICISM
to postpone one's criticism or commentary. (Informal.)
• Now, now, hold your fire until I've had a chance to explain.
• Hold your fire, Bill. You're too quick to complain.
have too many irons in the fire
Idiom(s): have too many irons in the fireTheme: BUSY
to be doing too many things at once.
• Tom had too many irons in the fire and missed some important deadlines.
• It’s better if you don't have too many irons in the fire.
draw one's fire away from
Idiom(s): draw (one's) fire (away from sb or sth)Theme: DIVERSION
to make oneself a target in order to protect someone or something. (Refers literally to gunfire or figuratively to any kind of diversionary attack.)
• The mother bird drew fire away from her chicks.
• The hen drew the hunter's fire away from her nest.
• The president drew fire away from Congress by proposing a compromise.
build a fire under
Idiom(s): build a fire under sbTheme: MOTIVATION
to do something to make someone start doing something. (Informal.)
• The teacher built a fire under the students, and they really started working.
• Somebody built afire under Bill, so he finally went out and got a job.
baptism of fire
Idiom(s): baptism of fireTheme: BEGINNINGS
a first experience of something, usually something difficult or unpleasant.
• My sons just had his first visit to the dentist. He stood up to the baptism of fire very well.
• Mary's had her baptism of fire as a teacher. She was assigned to the worst class in the school.
ball of fire
Idiom(s): ball of fireTheme: PEOPLE - POSITIVE
a very active and energetic person who always succeeds. (Usually considered slang.)
• Sally is a real ball of fire—she works late every night.
• Ann is no ball of fire, but she does get the job done.
like a house afire
Idiom(s): like a house on fire AND like a house afireTheme: SPEED
rapidly and with force. (Folksy.)
• The truck came roaring down the road like a house on fire.
• The crowd burst through the gate like a house afire.
caught in the cross fire
Idiom(s): caught in the middle AND caught in the cross fireTheme: ENTRAPMENT
caught between two arguing people or groups, making it difficult to remain neutral.
• The cook and the dishwasher were having an argument, and Tom got caught in the middle. All he wanted was his dinner.
• Mr. and Mrs. Smith tried to draw me into their argument. I don't like being caught in the middle.
• Bill and Ann were arguing, and poor Bobby, their son, was caught in the cross fire.
A burnt child dreads the fire.
A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things.He who plays with fire gets burnt.
If you behave in a risky way, you are likely to have problems.No smoke without fire.
There could be some truth in the rumour...As much use as a chocolate fire-guard
A fire-guard is used in front of a fireplace for safety. A chocolate fire-guard is of no use. An alternative to 'As much use as a chocolate teapot'.Fat hits the fire
When the fat hits the fire, trouble breaks out.Fire in the hole!
This is used as a warning when a planned explosion is about to happen.Fire on all cylinders
If something is firing on all cylinders, it is going as well as it could.Get on like a house on fire
If people get on like a house on fire, they have a very close and good relationship.
An fire idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with fire, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Dictionary of similar words, Different wording, Synonyms, Idioms for Idiom, Proverb fire
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