English Reference

Phrasal verb

fire away

Definitions

01start asking questions

B2

phr.v. you say this to someone to tell them they can start asking you questions.

phr.v. used as an imperative to signal that one is ready to listen to and answer a series of questions.

“I have a few minutes before my next meeting, so fire away.”

“Once the presentation concluded, the CEO turned to the journalists and told them to fire away with their questions regarding the merger.”

Informal

Synonyms

02to speak rapidly

C1

phr.v. to start talking or giving information very quickly, one thing after another.

phr.v. to begin speaking or presenting information in a rapid, continuous manner.

“The witness started to fire away with details as soon as the police arrived.”

“The researcher began to fire away with technical data, barely giving the audience enough time to process the initial findings.”

Informal

Synonyms

03to start shooting

B2

phr.v. to begin shooting a gun or weapon at a target.

phr.v. to commence the discharge of firearms, typically in a rapid or continuous sequence.

“The soldiers were ordered to fire away as soon as they saw the signal.”

“The battery was commanded to fire away at the advancing fleet until the ammunition reserves were depleted.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

cease fire

Teaching tip

the metaphor comes from discharging a weapon; it implies a rapid or direct series of questions, making it a great way to introduce 'shooting' metaphors in conversation.

Phrasal verb

Particles

away

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

fire + away

Synonyms

go aheadshootstart asking

Antonyms

Grammar

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference