Fire

caught in the crossfire

Meaning: suffer harm or damage inadvertently because of the conflict between other individuals or groups.

Example: Jane was proven innocent since she was only caught in the crossfire. Read on

short fuse

Meaning: to get angry quickly.

Example: He has a short fuse. He loses his temper for things that don't provoke others to high levels of angry emotion. Read on

burn the candle at both ends

Meaning: to exhaust someone's energies or resources by leading a hectic life.

Example: Since starting my new job, I have been burning the candle at both ends. Read on

fiddle while Rome burns

Meaning: to perform an inconsequential task or act irresponsibly in the midst of a disastrous event.

Example: Vacuuming the carpet while her co-worker was in with the boss, trying to steal her job, felt like fiddling while Rome burned. Read on

a wet blanket

Meaning: a person who spoils other people's fun.

Example: If you are going to come to my party, you can't be such a wet blanket. Read on

bright spark

Meaning: an intelligent and lively person (humorously)

Example: Emma is the bright spark of the school – she scored the highest marks in the class. Read on

fan the flames

Meaning: make a bad situation even worse

Example: The president's racist comments are really going to fan the flames of hatred among the crowd. Read on

out of the frying pan into the fire

Meaning: to go from a bad to worse situation

Example: In a bid to gain independence, she agreed to get married early, not knowing she was jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Read on

under fire

Meaning: being shot at

Example: The politician came under fire after it was discovered that he had spend campaign money on lavish parties. Read on

a burnt child dreads the fire

Meaning: everyone avoids repeating a hurting experience again in life

Example: After his first accident, Sam is quite careful in driving now because a burnt child dreads a fire. Read on

Next Idioms ❯