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Region: General | Usage example: The meme caught fire on social media.

Catch fire

Meaning

Gain instant popularity.

Usage

Used when describing suddenly successful trends.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Fire easily spreads, mirroring rapid popularity.

Used since the 19th century in literature.

Related Idioms

Fight fire with fire

Respond to an attack with similar tactics.

Set the world on fire

Do something remarkable or highly successful.

Add fuel to the fire

Make an already tense situation worse.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.