Idioms

set the world on fire

This page is about the idiom set the world on fire

Meaning

If you set the world on fire, you do something that creates a lot of excitement and makes you famous.

For example

  • Bob Marley took Jamaican reggae music and set the world on fire with it.

  • Our drama group's first production didn't exactly set the world on fire, but we learnt a lot while doing it.

Note:
This idiom is often used in the negative, as in "he didn't set the world on fire with..."

Quick Quiz

They really set the world on fire with

a. their latest bomb attacks

b. their new style of dance music

c. their new range of socks
a) their latest bomb attacks b) their new style of dance music c) their new range of socks
set the world on fire

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey