set the world on fire

Idioms  

1. Perform an outstanding feat and win fame, as in An ambitious man, he longed to set the world on fire with his inventions. This hyperbolic expression uses set on fire in the sense of “arouse excitement in.” Also see set on fire, def. 2.

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Example Sentences

Mr Williams, who originally hails from Ecclesall Road, told the BBC: "I've made many shows but this one has set the world on fire."

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2023

None have set the world on fire so far, not least because people already have a number of apps at their disposal to handle shopping, communicating and payments.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2022

The boy grows up poor in Tupelo, Miss., and Memphis, finds his way into the Sun Records recording studio at the age of 19, and proceeds to set the world on fire.

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2022

The actor concluded his thoughts on the matter by noting that the small spark Smollett’s hate crime story created could have "set the world on fire."

From Fox News • Dec. 13, 2021

The horses soared up to the very top of the sky and then, plunging headlong down, they set the world on fire.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton