fire up

1. Inflame with enthusiasm, anger, or another strong emotion, as in Her speech fired up the crowd in favor of her proposals . This expression dates from the early 1800s, when it referred literally to starting a fire in a furnace or boiler; its figurative use dates from the late 1800s.

2. Light a pipe, cigar, or cigarette, as in Do you mind if I fire up? [Late 1800s] A more common term, however, is light up , def. 2.

3. Start the ignition of an engine, as in Whenever he tried to fire up the motor, it stalled . [Mid-1900s]

Related Words

• affect 
• animate 
• arouse 
• cause 
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• excite 
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• get 
• hearten 
• impress 
• influence 
• instill 
• motivate 
• produce 
• provoke 
• spark 
• spur 
• stir 
• sway 
• touch