on fire en · ADP
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From Middle English on fier, on fijre, on fire, on fyire, on fyre.
Meanings
-
Being burned by fire.
If the wind picks up and the flames spread, the whole town could go on fire.
-
(idiomatic) Overwhelmed with emotion; beside oneself.
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.
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:
-
(idiomatic) Excited, enthusiastic or passionate.
“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.
1975 November 6, Robert E. Johnson, “The Prodigal Returns To His First Love: The Beauty Industry”, in Jet, volume 49, number 7, page 21:
-
(idiomatic) Doing very well; achieving good results at a rapid rate.
That striker has scored four goals so far – he's on fire!
- (idiomatic, informal) Sexually aroused.
-
(excessive, of a body part) Experiencing a burning-like sensation, especially "the burn" (from buildup of lactic acid)
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.
2016, Eric Fair, Consequence, page 28:
Deriveds
get on like a house on fire · I wouldn't piss on someone if they were on fire
Synonyms
flaming · afire · burning · on a tear · aflame · in flames · on a roll · alight · go up in smoke
Translations (36)
gl ao lume (being burned by fire) · la flagrans (being burned by fire) · de einen Lauf haben (rapidly achieving good results) · nl in de fik (being burned by fire) · es en llamas (being burned by fire) · fi tulessa (being burned by fire) · nl in brand (being burned by fire) · ga le thine (being burned by fire) · sv brinnande (being burned by fire) · pl płonący (being burned by fire) · az qan eləmək (rapidly achieving good results) · ro în flăcări (being burned by fire) · ru в уда́ре (rapidly achieving good results) · pl na fali (rapidly achieving good results) · pt pegando fogo (being burned by fire) · got 𐍆𐌿𐌽𐌹𐍃𐌺𐍃 (being burned by fire) · ru в огне́ (being burned by fire) · it in fiamme (being burned by fire) · ka იწვის (being burned by fire) · de in Brand (being burned by fire) · fr en feu (being burned by fire) · cy ar dân (being burned by fire) · de in Flammen (being burned by fire) · es a tope (rapidly achieving good results) · pt em chamas (being burned by fire) · gl ó lume (being burned by fire) · es en fuego (being burned by fire) · la igneus (being burned by fire) · es en fuego (rapidly achieving good results) · nl in lichterlaaie (being burned by fire) · sv i brand (being burned by fire) · az sikib-dağıtmaq (rapidly achieving good results) · la ardens (being burned by fire) · es en racha (rapidly achieving good results) · nl in de hens (being burned by fire) · fi vauhdissa (rapidly achieving good results)