English idiom

fight fire with fire

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to counter an opponent using the same methods they use

Why this phrase?

Firefighters once set controlled burns to meet an oncoming wildfire; the phrase pictures meeting force with equal force.

Example

“The company fought fire with fire, launching a rival product within a week.”

Recorded usage

These full forms were measured in COCA in 2016–2017. Counts apply to the quoted form, not every use of this idiom; overlapping forms are not added together.

“Fight fire with fire” — 43 recorded occurrences

Grouped source variants; editorially classified here as an idiom. Usage counts are separate from CEFR difficulty.

Dictionary details

Component words

fire

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

put out fires

to deal with urgent problems instead of doing planned work

no smoke without fire

rumors or accusations usually contain at least some truth

play with fire

to take a serious risk that is likely to bring harmful consequences

tit for tat

an equivalent retaliation, an eye for an eye

bury the hatchet

to reconcile with someone and bring a quarrel to an end

drive someone up the wall

to make someone feel extremely annoyed or frustrated

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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