fire up
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to start a machine or a computer program; it can also mean to make someone feel very excited or angry.
phrasal verb. to initiate the operation of an engine, device, or software application; figuratively, to stimulate intense emotion or enthusiasm in an individual or group.
I need to fire up my laptop before the meeting starts.
The coach gave a powerful speech to fire up the players before the championship game.
As soon as the engineers fire up the main turbines, the entire facility begins to vibrate with immense power.
- shut down
- discourage
- turn off
- Particles
- up
- Separability
- optional
- Pattern
- fire + up + object
often used with machines, software, or groups of people as the object.
help students connect the literal sense of 'starting a fire' in an engine to the figurative sense of 'igniting' someone's emotions.
He fired up it.He fired it up.when the object is a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.
Last updated April 24, 2026