catch fire; get angry; a fire breaks out
Meanings
5 senses · 13 examplesverb
to catch fire; to ignite; to start burning
Describes the initial stage of combustion.
This kind of wood is dry and catches fire easily.
After lighting, the bonfire started burning quickly.
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Diesel engines require compression heat to ignite.
verb
(of ammunition) to fire; to discharge; the primer ignites
technicalTechnical term for firearm/ammunition ignition.
This bullet failed to fire because it got damp.
Old-style cannons sometimes misfire.
adjective
(of a stove) easy to light and burns well; draws well
dialectDialectal or informal term describing the performance of a stove or fireplace.
This new stove draws very well, so cooking is much faster.
If the flue is blocked, the stove won't burn well.
verb
to catch fire; a fire breaks out (accidentally)
dialectDialectal term for an accidental fire starting.
The warehouse next door caught fire last night, and the fire department came.
Aging electrical wiring can easily cause a house fire.
verb
to lose one's temper; to get angry; to fly off the handle
informalVery common spoken usage. Often implies a sudden, visible outburst of anger.
Don't get angry yet, listen to my explanation first.
When the boss saw the error in the report, he lost his temper on the spot.
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Be patient with children, don't lose your temper at every little thing.
He's under a lot of pressure lately and gets angry very easily.