catch fire

Idioms  

1. Be ignited, as in This wood is dry enough to catch fire . [c. 1600] Also see set on fire .

2. Become inflamed with enthusiasm or passion, as in His ideas caught fire all over the country . [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

Should the Americans suddenly catch fire, they could even begin to dream about the all-time winter record of 16 golds, set by Norway at the last Olympics.

From The Wall Street Journal

In truth, Newcastle have yet to catch fire six months into the campaign.

From BBC

San Jose caught fire as the capital of Silicon Valley and grew to surpass San Francisco.

From The Wall Street Journal

A red-hot ember floated down to the dry brown pine needles at their feet, and Akira watched as the pine needles caught fire with a whoomp.

From Literature

It turned out to be a bigger event than anybody expected because the pizza-parlor ovens caught fire half an hour before the presentation.

From Literature

Related Words

• burn
• inflame
• kindle