catch fire
Idioms-
Be ignited, as in This wood is dry enough to catch fire . [c. 1600] Also see set on fire .
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Become inflamed with enthusiasm or passion, as in His ideas caught fire all over the country . [Early 1700s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to state news agency TASS, the targeted patrol car was heavily damaged but did not catch fire.
From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026
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 • Feb. 5, 2026
The U.S. jobs market took a sharp turn for the worse in 2025, and it doesn’t look like hiring will catch fire in the new year.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 20, 2025
Russell's cameo in the third Test against South Africa was the brightest spark, but now is the time he needs to catch fire.
From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025
It would catch fire several times during the night, but the flames would be smothered before they could get out of control.
From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
