catches fire
Begins to burn
Catches fire means to begin burning, either literally or figuratively.
A building catches fire when flames ignite it.
An idea catches fire when it spreads rapidly and gains momentum: The movement caught fire after the video went viral.
The phrase emphasizes the sudden, often dramatic onset of combustion or enthusiasm.
- ignitesCauses to burn
- enkindleCause to burn
- blazesIntense, spreading fires
- goes up in flamesBurns to destruction
- flammableProne to ignition
combustible · sparking · spark plug · flash point · incendiary · smoldering · wildfire · conflagration · burning · gasoline · heat · oxygen · accelerant · oil · glowing · charring · trending · hot streak
metaphorical intensity
catches firedies down
Gradually becomes less intense
flames out · falls flat · peters out · stalls · fades away
catch, catches, catching, caught, catcher, catchers, fire, fires, fired