firebreathing

Spewing flames orally

Firebreathing describes something that breathes or spews fire—literally for dragons and circus performers, figuratively for people who are fierce, aggressive, or zealous: a firebreathing fundamentalist preacher, the firebreathing rhetoric of the campaign.

The image suggests someone whose words scorch.

Also spelled fire-breathing.

performance

circus

Traveling entertainment with performers

  • sideshowSecondary carnival attraction
  • buskerPublic-space entertainer seeking donations
  • stuntDangerous feat for spectacle

entertainer · showman · carnival · festival · troupe · act · vaudeville · cabaret · acrobat · gala

danger

burns

Heat-caused tissue damage

scalding · peril · volatility · incendiary · safety · accelerant · ignition · flash · risk · caution

metaphor

fury

Intense violent anger

wrath · fervor · zeal · ardor · tirade · outburst · fiery · passionate · fierce · vehement

dragon

mythology

Body of traditional tales

serpent · beast · hydra · medieval · chimera · fantasy · legend · basilisk · creature · lore

pyrotechnics

flame

Burning gas made visible

  • torchHandheld burning light source
  • fuelEnergy source material
  • keroseneFlammable petroleum distillate

paraffin · wick · ignite · extinguish · technique · spitting · mist · fireball · plume · glow

Opposites
elemental output

firebreathingcryogenic

Extremely low temperature

freezing

temperament/intensity

firebreathingmild-mannered

Gentle and unassertive

soft-spoken · meek · gentle · placid · measured

danger/threat level

firebreathingharmless

Causing no injury

gentle · benign · tame · docile · cuddly

Family

fire, breath, breathing, breathe, breathed, breather, breathless, breathlessly, fires

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG