ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fire up

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford Informal

phr. v.. to start a machine or a computer program; it can also mean to make someone feel very excited or angry.

phr. v.. to initiate the operation of an engine, device, or software application; figuratively, to stimulate intense emotion or enthusiasm in an individual or group.


SIMPLE

I need to fire up my laptop before the meeting starts.

CONTEXTUAL

The coach gave a powerful speech to fire up the players before the championship game.

COMPLEX

As soon as the engineers fire up the main turbines, the entire facility begins to vibrate with immense power.

Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
fire + up + object
Usage

often used with machines, software, or groups of people as the object.

Teaching tip

help students connect the literal sense of 'starting a fire' in an engine to the figurative sense of 'igniting' someone's emotions.

Pitfall

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.

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