Fire off means to send or dispatch something rapidly, often without much deliberation.
You fire off an email, a text, a memo, or a response—the image is of bullets leaving a gun in quick succession.
The phrase often implies haste or slight carelessness: She fired off a reply before reading the whole message.
It can also mean to ask questions in rapid sequence: The reporter fired off questions at the press secretary.
1. communication — email, Digital written communication; message (Transmitted communication); text (Written or printed words); memo (Brief internal message); reply · response · letter · tweet · notification · dispatch · send · transmit · forward · blast
2. gunfire — shot, Quick liquor serving; round (Curved like circle); bullet (Fired metal projectile); volley (Simultaneous firing burst); salvo · burst · discharge · trigger · rifle · pistol · cannon · artillery · ammunition · cartridge
Opposites
SPEED AND DELIBERATION OF COMMUNICATIONfire off ≠ craft Skilled manual art; mull over · revise · polish · sleep on · refine
ACTION VS INACTIONfire off ≠ hold back Prevent forward movement; withhold · suppress · restrain · sit on · keep to oneself
RECEIVING VS SENDINGfire off ≠ receive Accept something offered; take in · accept · get · field
Categories
phrasal verbs: pick up, look at, put down, turn on, wait for
Family
off, fire, fired, firing, takeoff, fires, misfire, cutoff, firefighter
- Familiarity
- Top 50,000
- Profile
- Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G