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on fire. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
on fire, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
on fire in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
on fire you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From Middle English on fier, on fijre, on fire, on fyire, on fyre.
Pronunciation
Prepositional phrase
on fire
- Being burned by fire.
- Synonyms: afire, aflame, alight, burning, flaming, in flames, going up in smoke
If the wind picks up and the flames spread, the whole town could go on fire.
- (idiomatic) Overwhelmed with emotion; beside oneself.
2022 [2021], Jill Bolte Taylor, “The Brain Huddle: Your Power Tool for Peace”, in Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life, Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, →ISBN, page 160:Anytime I am on fire with anxiety about the future, or totally freaking out that I am not being seen, heard, or treated fairly based on my old wounds, it is easy for me to RECOGNIZE that my Character 2 has flared right up in an attempt to not only protect me but help me get my needs met.
- (idiomatic) Excited, enthusiastic or passionate.
1975 November 6, Robert E. Johnson, “The Prodigal Returns To His First Love: The Beauty Industry”, in Jet, volume 49, number 7, page 21:“I'm on fire with an idea,” the 48-year-old businessman proclaimed with excitement similar to that which he projected in 1971 when his company became the first predominantly Black-owned corporation to be listed on the American Stock Exchange.
- (idiomatic) Doing very well; achieving good results at a rapid rate.
- Synonyms: on a roll, on a tear
That striker has scored four goals so far – he's on fire!
- (idiomatic, informal) Sexually aroused.
- (hyperbolic, of a body part) Experiencing a burning-like sensation, especially "the burn" (from buildup of lactic acid)
2016, Eric Fair, Consequence, page 28:He locks us into a crouched position that results in muscle failure of the quads, hamstrings, and calves. It hurts. We raise ten-pound rubber rifles and hold them parallel to the ground. Our legs are on fire, then our arms too.
Derived terms
Translations
being burned by fire
- Dutch: in brand, in de fik, in de hens, in lichterlaaie
- Finnish: tulessa (fi)
- French: en feu
- Galician: ó lume, ao lume
- Georgian: იწვის (ic̣vis)
- German: in Brand, in Flammen (both construed with the verb stehen)
- Gothic: 𐍆𐌿𐌽𐌹𐍃𐌺𐍃 (funisks)
- Irish: le thine
- Italian: in fiamme
- Latin: ardens, flagrans, igneus (la)
- Polish: płonąć (pl) (literally to burn)
- Portuguese: pegando fogo, em chamas
- Spanish: en fuego, en llamas
- Swedish: i brand, brinnande (sv)
- Welsh: ar dân
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rapidly achieving good results
Further reading
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