______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Learn more English in a Minute
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Fire is hot and dangerous. There are a few phrases in English which use the word ‘fire’. Learn some of them here with Georgie.
Phrases with 'fire'
play with fire
do something risky or dangerous
- That’s the fourth time he’s been rude to the teacher today. He’s playing with fire – he’ll probably get detention.
be on fire
be performing amazingly
- I’m usually really bad at bowling, but for some reason today I’m absolutely on fire! I’ve had three strikes!
be under fire
be criticised or attacked
- The delivery company was under fire for their treatment of staff.
add fuel to the fire
make a bad situation even worse
- Speaking to the press about the cheating scandal added fuel to the fire – it made him look worse than he did before.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Download a free transcript!
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
TRANSCRIPT
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Georgie
Fire is hot and dangerous. So, what kind of things can we express with the word 'fire'?
If you play with fire, you're doing something risky or dangerous.
Leaving your car unlocked in the city? If you play with fire, you're going to get burnt.
If you describe someone as onfire, it means they're performing amazingly.
Did you see Molly's presentation? She's on fire today! She's doing so well.
But if you're under fire, that means you're being criticised or attacked. This comes from fire referring to bullets.
Bill was under fire because he kept turning up late to work.
What happens if you addfuel to the fire? You make it bigger! You make a bad situation even worse.
Don't argue with her now – you'll only add fuel to the fire.
Practise these phrases and you'll be on fire in your English conversations!
Next
Learn more phrases and expressions in The English We Speak.
Latest English in a Minute Series 5
Phrases with 'bone'
Episode 251202 / 02 Dec 2025
You'll love these phrases – I can feel it in my bones!
Phrases with 'cake'
Episode 251125 / 25 Nov 2025
Learning English is a piece of cake with BBC Learning English!
Phrases with 'wind'
Episode 251111 / 11 Nov 2025
It's time to throw caution to the wind and learn some phrases to use with 'wind'.
Phrases with 'pull'
Episode 251021 / 21 Oct 2025
Pull out all the stops and learn four phrases with 'pull' here.
Phrases with 'look'
Episode 250930 / 30 Sep 2025
Look the part with these four expressions with 'look'
Phrases with 'hit'
Episode 250916 / 16 Sep 2025
Learn these phrases this week to hit the ground running next week!
Phrases with 'fire'
Episode 250805 / 05 Aug 2025
Learn these phrases, and you'll be on fire in your English conversations!
Phrases with 'stone'
Episode 250715 / 15 Jul 2025
Leave no stone unturned when it comes to your English study!
Phrases with 'blue'
Episode 250708 / 11 Jul 2025
How many 'blue' phrases do you know? Learn three more here.
Phrases with 'ice'
Episode 250701 / 11 Jul 2025
Don't put your learning on ice – learn these phrases with 'ice' today!
