fire off

Idioms  

1. Say or write and send away rapidly, as in He fired off three more questions, or She fired off a letter of complaint to the president. This expression originally (from about 1700) was, and still is, used in the sense of “discharge a weapon or ammunition,” as in The police were instructed to fire off canisters of tear gas. The figurative use dates from the late 1800s.

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Example Sentences

Ezekowitz prioritizes teams that take care of the ball and fire off more shots, which is why he likes the Mustangs’ chances more than most if they get through Wednesday’s play-in game.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

A British tourist has been reported missing in Thailand after a boat caught fire off the coast of the island of Koh Tao.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2025

A 51-foot power vessel caught fire off Catalina over the weekend, and firefighters could not save it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2024

You can fire off a shortcut by tapping it or by asking Siri to run it.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 21, 2024

Suddenly he ordered his son into a stance and told him to fire off and start blocking.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger