put out a fire vs set off a fire

The phrases 'put out a fire' and 'set off a fire' have different meanings and are not interchangeable. 'Put out a fire' means to extinguish a fire, while 'set off a fire' means to cause a fire to start. They are not comparable as they represent opposite actions.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 2959 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to mean extinguishing a fire.

"put out a fire"

This phrase is used when referring to the action of extinguishing a fire. It implies the act of stopping a fire from burning.

Examples:

The firefighters worked hard to put out the fire.
Please grab the fire extinguisher and put out the fire.
It took hours to put out the fire that had spread through the forest.
The quick response of the team helped to put out the fire before it caused major damage.
The neighbors came together to help put out the fire in the building.

Show examples from the web [+]

Whole town pulls together To put out a fire.
Great, you can put out a fire.
We're diving to put out a fire.
The best way to put out a fire is to starve it of oxygen.
Great, you can put out a fire.
Who believed that I could put out a fire by myself.
I'm getting a medal at school because I put out a fire.
I've got to put out a fire.
Dr. Nesbit delivered her right before he put out a fire.
We thought we'd have to put out a fire.
Then why put out a fire with gunpowder today?
Who says engine only knows how to put out a fire?
Out of the way. I have to put out a fire.
and drinking enough perhaps to put out a fire like this?
Only water can put out a fire - so, when you want to clean and heal yourself, use water.
Well stop looking because they are right here... Good Luck and happy reading..."Water Brigade" For their first high priority assignment, your unit must put out a fire that is destroying civilian crops!
Did you put out a fire?
I put out a fire.
We must get away from the idea that we are rushing to put out a fire in one corner, only then to have to rush again to put out the next one.
Nothing can put out a fire like that.

Alternatives:

extinguish a fire
douse a fire
quench a fire
snuff out a fire
smother a fire

This phrase is correct but has a different meaning from 'put out a fire.' It means to cause a fire to start.

"set off a fire"

This phrase is used when referring to the action of starting a fire intentionally or unintentionally. It implies the act of igniting a fire.

Examples:

The fireworks accidentally set off a fire in the dry grass.
The faulty wiring in the house set off a fire in the attic.
The campers were warned not to set off a fire in the restricted area.
The arsonist was caught trying to set off a fire in the warehouse.
The careless disposal of cigarettes can easily set off a fire.

Show examples from the web [+]

I am aware that this could set off a fire alarm and would therefore be grateful if you would allow me to make this point in advance of the report by the President-in-Office of the Council.
Activation of a fire detector shall set off a visual and acoustic fire alarm signal at the control panel and the indicator devices.
I only set off the fire alarm.
He kept trying to set off the fire alarm by twirling me into it.
They set off the fire alarm to clear out the building.
A puff of smoke sets off the fire alarm in the rafters.
Now, I'd hack the building's server, set off the fire alarm.
Happy, I'm about to set off the fire alarm.
With the right price, T-Bag will set off the fire alarms.
Verås set off Ullevål's fire alarm.
The fire set off the Halon system.
See, if I could just get onto that terminal, I could set off the fire alarm, I couldcrash the power, create a diversion.
If I find out which one of you jokers set off the fire alarm, that's it, you're done for the year.
So, yes, I can kill the alarm, but there's no guarantee that I won't set off the fire sprinklers at the same time.
That photo you uncovered set off quite the fire alarm.
She set off-the Chinese fire alarm... in the New York subway, and she has a personal relationship that -
But I was now the crazy girl who set the fire alarm off.
The activation of a fire detector in an individual cabin in this fire detection zone shall set off a visual and acoustic signal in the passageway outside that cabin.
Those two in the basement started a fire and set off fireworks, but didn't get out.
Moreover, this proposal is liable to set off a chain reaction of totally unforeseen reforms.

Alternatives:

start a fire
ignite a fire
trigger a fire
cause a fire
spark a fire

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put out a fire vs set off a fire

"put out a fire"

"set off a fire"

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