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catch fire

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catch (on) fire

to ignite and burn with flames. Keep your coat away from the flames, or it will catch fire. The curtains blew against the flame of the candle and caught on fire.

See also: catch, fire

catch fire

1. Be ignited, as in This wood is dry enough to catch fire. [c. 1600] Also see set on fire.

2. Become inflamed with enthusiasm or passion, as in His ideas caught fire all over the country. [Early 1700s]

See also: catch, fire

catch fire

1. To ignite.

2. To become very enthusiastic.

3. To become the subject of great interest and widespread enthusiasm: an idea that caught fire all over the country.

See also: catch, fire