"on fire"是英语中常用的短语,核心含义围绕"燃烧",但延伸出字面义和引申义两类用法,具体如下:
表示"着火;起火",描述物体处于燃烧的状态。
结构:主语(通常是物)+ be on fire / catch on fire(开始着火)/ set sth on fire(放火烧某物)
例子:
The old barn is on fire! Call the fire department!(旧谷仓着火了!快叫消防队!)
The candle fell over and the curtain caught on fire.(蜡烛倒了,窗帘开始着火。)
Someone set the warehouse on fire last night.(昨晚有人放火烧了仓库。)
从"燃烧"的热烈感延伸出"状态极佳;充满热情;极其激动"的意思,强调人或事物的"爆发力"或"投入度"。
这是口语中最常见的用法,主语通常是人或抽象事物(如表现、热情等)。
例子:
The singer was on fire during the concert—every song got a standing ovation.(歌手在演唱会上状态爆棚——每首歌都获得了起立鼓掌。)
Our team is on fire this season—we’ve won 10 games in a row!(我们队这赛季状态极佳——已经连胜10场!)
She was on fire in the interview—she answered every question perfectly.(她面试时表现超棒——每个问题都答得完美。)
例子:
He’s on fire about his new business idea—he talks about it nonstop.(他对新创业想法充满热情——一直说个不停。)
The crowd was on fire when their favorite band came on stage.(当 favorite 乐队上台时,观众们无比激动。)
be on fire:强调"处于...状态"(着火/状态好);
catch on fire:强调"开始着火"(动作);
set sth on fire:强调"主动放火"(动作);
on fire 作表语或补语,不单独作谓语,需配合be动词或其他动词(如catch、set)。
字面:着火(物的状态);
引申:状态极佳/充满热情(人的表现或情绪)。
这个短语在口语中非常灵活,夸人"状态好"或"热情高"时用它,会比"good"或"excited"更生动!