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

More than a dozen people were affected when a multi-family complex in Denver caught fire on Wednesday. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Even when flames are intense, the relatively short duration of exposure gives heat little time to penetrate thick masonry walls, assuming interior materials don’t catch fire and continue burning from within. — Giorgia Giardina, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

To date, per the CPSC, the company has received at least 19 reports of the products smoking, sparking, burning, melting, overheating or catching fire. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Lineage’s 500,000-square-foot food warehouse in Boyle Heights caught fire on June 17. — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for catch fire

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