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

See Examples For:

set the world on fire

Sabitzer has not set the world on fire as a playmaker.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2025

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

My older sister was a perfect angel and star student, who won awards for her writing from elementary school on, and everyone thought she was going to set the world on fire.

From Slate ● 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