catch fire

phrase

1

: to become ignited

2

: to become fired with enthusiasm

3

: to increase greatly in scope, popularity, interest, or effectiveness

The idea failed to catch fire.

Examples of catch fire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The regulations seek to reduce the risk of fire following paths of vegetation and flammable materials to homes, and also to help keep homes from catching fire because embers ignited materials beside them. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

More recently, in June, a rail car loaded with lithium-ion batteries caught fire as it was being burglarized in the Cajon Pass, authorities and railroad representatives said. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Hotel management told the news agency that the blaze may have originated near the reception area after an electrical component in the hotel’s power supply system caught fire. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Modern vehicles don’t need to be moving — or even turned on — to catch fire. — Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for catch fire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar