accidental discharge; speak out of turn; electrical fire; catch fire
Meanings
4 senses · 13 examplesverb
(of a firearm) to discharge accidentally; to go off unintentionally
Refers specifically to the unintentional firing of guns or other projectile weapons.
The gun suddenly went off accidentally; fortunately, no one was injured.
He accidentally discharged the weapon while cleaning it.
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This gun carries a risk of accidental discharge; use it carefully.
verb
(figurative) to speak out of turn; to go too far in one's remarks; to put one's foot in one's mouth
informalDerived from the firearm sense, implying an uncontrolled 'discharge' of words. Often implies lack of tact or discretion.
He often speaks out of turn and frequently offends people.
You went a bit too far in what you said today; watch your step.
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Be careful what you say on this occasion; definitely don't put your foot in your mouth.
verb
(of electrical wiring) to short-circuit and cause combustion; to spark and ignite due to damaged insulation
Technical usage referring to electrical fires caused by faulty wiring or short circuits.
The cause of the fire was electrical short-circuiting.
Old wiring is prone to short-circuiting and catching fire; it needs to be replaced promptly.
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Half of this building was burned down due to an electrical short circuit.
verb
to catch fire; to be on fire; to go up in flames (of buildings or structures)
General term for a building or structure catching fire, similar to 失火 but often implying an accident.
The warehouse has caught fire; call the police quickly!
Fortunately it was discovered early; otherwise the whole building would have caught fire.
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The kitchen oil pan overheated and caused a fire.
Last night the neighbor's house caught fire and burned three rooms.