open fire
Start the attack
Open fire means to begin shooting.
Military and police contexts use it as a command or description: The soldiers opened fire on the enemy position.
It can describe any situation where shooting commences: The gunman opened fire in the parking lot.
The phrase emphasizes the initiation of gunfire rather than a single shot.
Sustained, overwhelming attack
- volleySimultaneous firing burst
- salvoSimultaneous weapons discharge
- fusilladeRapid series of shots
- strafeshoot from above
bombardment · assault · ambush · raid · offensive · onslaught · engagement · skirmish
Indoor structure for burning
- chimneyVertical smoke passage
- mantelpieceShelf above fireplace
- inglenookAlcove beside a fireplace
- andironsPaired hearth log supports
flue · hearthstone · fender · grate · bellows · poker · tongs · firewood
Small poured drinks
- bulletsFirearm projectiles
- ammunitionWeapon projectiles and charges
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- muzzleAnimal's nose area
recoil · trigger · rifle · pistol · shotgun · cartridge · caliber · magazine
barrage
Sustained, overwhelming attack
strafe · bombardment · assault · ambush · raid · offensive · onslaught · engagement · skirmish · clash
fireplace
Indoor structure for burning
- chimneyVertical smoke passage
- mantelpieceShelf above fireplace
- inglenookAlcove beside a fireplace
andirons · flue · hearthstone · fender · grate · bellows · poker · tongs · firewood · yule log
shots
Small poured drinks
- bulletsFirearm projectiles
- ammunitionWeapon projectiles and charges
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
muzzle · recoil · trigger · rifle · pistol · shotgun · cartridge · caliber · magazine · report
marshmallows
Pillowy sugar foam
firewood · kindling · logs · flames · embers · starlight · campfire songs · wilderness · outdoors · nature
grill
Cooking surface over fire
barbecue · spit · rotisserie · smoke · baste · skewer · cauldron · tripod · coals · asado
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, take a shot, under the gun
- fire idiomsfan the flames, spread like wildfire, go up in flames, go up in smoke, up in smoke
- offensive movesattack, strike, assault, rush, blitz
- military commandsattention, halt, fall back, advance, attack
- fire featuresfireplace, hearth, brazier, campfire ring, bonfire pit
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, war, armed conflict
open firecease fire
Suspension of armed conflict
hold fire · ceasefire · stand down · hold your fire · lay down arms
open firehold fire
Command to pause attacking
hold your fire · stand down · de-escalate · back down · defuse
open, fire, fired, firing, fires, firearm, misfire, firearms, misfired