ALL meanings of play with fire
play with fire
P p - noun play with fire a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame. 1
- noun play with fire a burning mass of material, as on a hearth or in a furnace. 1
- noun play with fire the destructive burning of a building, town, forest, etc.; conflagration. 1
- noun play with fire heat used for cooking, especially the lighted burner of a stove: Put the kettle on the fire. 1
- noun play with fire Greek fire. 1
- noun play with fire flashing light; luminous appearance. 1
- noun play with fire brilliance, as of a gem. 1
- noun play with fire burning passion; excitement or enthusiasm; ardor. 1
- noun play with fire liveliness of imagination. 1
- noun play with fire fever or inflammation. 1
- noun play with fire severe trial or trouble; ordeal. 1
- noun play with fire exposure to fire as a means of torture or ordeal. 1
- noun play with fire strength, as of an alcoholic beverage. 1
- noun play with fire a spark or sparks. 1
- noun play with fire the discharge of firearms: enemy fire. 1
- noun play with fire the effect of firing military weapons: to pour fire upon the enemy. 1
- noun play with fire British. a gas or electric heater used for heating a room. 1
- noun play with fire Literary. a luminous object, as a star: heavenly fires. 1
- verb with object play with fire to set on fire. 1
- verb with object play with fire to supply with fuel; attend to the fire of: They fired the boiler. 1
- verb with object play with fire to expose to the action of fire; subject to heat. 1
- verb with object play with fire to apply heat to in a kiln for baking or glazing; burn. 1
- verb with object play with fire to heat very slowly for the purpose of drying, as tea. 1
- verb with object play with fire to inflame, as with passion; fill with ardor. 1
- verb with object play with fire to inspire. 1
- verb with object play with fire to light or cause to glow as if on fire. 1
- verb with object play with fire to discharge (a gun). 1
- verb with object play with fire to project (a bullet or the like) by or as if by discharging from a gun. 1
- verb with object play with fire to subject to explosion or explosive force, as a mine. 1
- verb with object play with fire to hurl; throw: to fire a stone through a window. 1
- verb with object play with fire to dismiss from a job. 1
- verb with object play with fire Veterinary Medicine. to apply a heated iron to (the skin) in order to create a local inflammation of the superficial structures, with the intention of favorably affecting deeper inflammatory processes. 1
- verb with object play with fire to drive out or away by or as by fire. 1
- verb without object play with fire to take fire; be kindled. 1
- verb without object play with fire to glow as if on fire. 1
- verb without object play with fire to become inflamed with passion; become excited. 1
- verb without object play with fire to shoot, as a gun. 1
- verb without object play with fire to discharge a gun: to fire at a fleeing enemy. 1
- verb without object play with fire to hurl a projectile. 1
- verb without object play with fire Music. to ring the bells of a chime all at once. 1
- verb without object play with fire (of plant leaves) to turn yellow or brown before the plant matures. 1
- verb without object play with fire (of an internal-combustion engine) to cause ignition of the air-fuel mixture in a cylinder or cylinders. 1
- verb without object play with fire (of a nerve cell) to discharge an electric impulse. 1
- idioms play with fire between two fires, under physical or verbal attack from two or more sides simultaneously: The senator is between two fires because of his stand on the bill. 1
- idioms play with fire build a fire under, Informal. to cause or urge to take action, make a decision quickly, or work faster: If somebody doesn't build a fire under that committee, it will never reach a decision. 1
- idioms play with fire catch fire, Also, catch on fire. to become ignited; burn: The sofa caught fire from a lighted cigarette. to create enthusiasm: His new book did not catch fire among his followers. 1
- idioms play with fire fight fire with fire, to use the same tactics as one's opponent; return like for like. 1
- idioms play with fire go through fire and water, to brave any danger or endure any trial: He said he would go through fire and water to win her hand. 1
- idioms play with fire hang fire, to be delayed in exploding, or fail to explode. to be undecided, postponed, or delayed: The new housing project is hanging fire because of concerted opposition. 1
- idioms play with fire miss fire, to fail to explode or discharge, as a firearm. to fail to produce the desired effect; be unsuccessful: He repeated the joke, but it missed fire the second time. 1