open fire
idiom
: to begin shooting
A man opened fire in a crowded mall.
—often + onThe soldiers opened fire on enemy troops.
Examples of open fire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her college roommate had made a pie, and cops were now allowed to open fire on peaceful protesters if the peace seemed tenuous in any way.
—
Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Aurora police fatally shot a teenage boy Thursday night who officers say threatened to open fire inside a gas station.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Headed by chef Rob Roy Cameron, the food is inspired by the open fire cooking of northern Spain, made with local ingredients.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
More Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images Patrick Mannelly, who was the team's long snapper for 16 seasons, did not hesitate to open fire at pass rusher Montez Sweat.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open fire
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Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Aurora police fatally shot a teenage boy Thursday night who officers say threatened to open fire inside a gas station.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Headed by chef Rob Roy Cameron, the food is inspired by the open fire cooking of northern Spain, made with local ingredients.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
More Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images Patrick Mannelly, who was the team's long snapper for 16 seasons, did not hesitate to open fire at pass rusher Montez Sweat.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open fire
Cite this Entry
“Open fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20fire. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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