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Region: US | Usage example: She had her hair on fire trying to meet the deadline.

Hair on fire

Meaning

Panicked or in urgent distress.

Usage

Used to describe frantic or crisis behavior.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Hyperbolic image of someone so alarmed they look aflame.

Modern metaphor popularized in radio and TV commentary.

Related Idioms

Fight fire with fire

Respond to an attack with similar tactics.

Hold feet to the fire

Pressure someone to deliver or stay honest.

Set the world on fire

Do something remarkable or highly successful.

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.