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• brush fire
  brush fire

  noun

  a fire in an area of bushes, shrubs, or brush, as distinct from a forest fire.
• brush-fire
  brush-fire

  adjective

  limited in scope, area, or importance, as some labor disputes or local skirmishes.

brush fire

¹ American  

noun

1. a fire in an area of bushes, shrubs, or brush, as distinct from a forest fire.

2. any small but persistent problem, as within a large organization, a department of a government, or between nations.

   border skirmishes and other international brush fires.

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brush-fire ² American  

[bruhsh-fahy^uhr] / ˈbrʌʃˌfaɪər /

Or brushfire

adjective

1. limited in scope, area, or importance, as some labor disputes or local skirmishes.

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brush fire British  

noun

1. a fire in bushes and scrub

2. a minor local war

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Etymology

Origin of brush fire¹

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80

Origin of brush-fire²

First recorded in 1945–50

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

brush fire brush-fire

A brush fire in the mountains west of Los Angeles prompted evacuation warnings from officials on Thursday, as powerful winds risked spreading the blaze rapidly.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

A brush fire that broke out Monday afternoon in the hills around La Habra Heights has affected multiple homes, with at least one destroyed, flames leaping from another and more under threat, according to authorities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

The California Highway Patrol received a call at approximately 8:21 a.m. about a brush fire on the right side of the southbound 405 Freeway at the westbound 101 Freeway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

Reports in French media say the blaze, near one of the parking lots at the airport, originated from a brush fire and then spread to a building.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

But this time, it spread fast as a brush fire on a windy day.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

This approach would mimic the brush-fire pattern of the epidemic at the moment.

From Washington Post

One reason: a brush-fire price war has broken out among the airlines.

From Time Magazine Archive

Along with paratroopers in red berets who also marched, these troops are part of a mobile strike force that Russia is training to improve its capability for intervening in brush-fire wars around the world.

From Time Magazine Archive

But then the Charger's job is no more modern than its look; the turboprop plane is a jungle fighter, a volunteer for the brush-fire wars of today's world.

From Time Magazine Archive

The chimneys and the roof and the windows of the house showing no sign of smoke, he explored farther; and presently located the odor's origin in a small brush-fire at some distance behind the stables.

From Further Adventures of Lad by Albert Payson Terhune

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