fire away: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, conversational
Quick answer
What does “fire away” mean?
To begin asking questions freely, often in an interview or Q&A context.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To begin asking questions freely, often in an interview or Q&A context.
To start speaking or acting without hesitation; an invitation to proceed with questions or comments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally common in both varieties. No significant differences.
Connotations
Same informal, encouraging tone in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media interviews, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “fire away” in a Sentence
Imperative: Fire away!Subject + fire away: The journalists fired away with tough questions.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fire away” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Fire away,' the PM said to the reporters.
- The audience fired away with queries about the budget.
American English
- 'Fire away,' the coach told the sports journalists.
- Once he finished speaking, listeners fired away with follow-ups.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in Q&A sessions after presentations: 'I'll take questions now—fire away.'
Academic
Rare; more typical in informal student-teacher interactions.
Everyday
Common when someone is curious and you invite their questions: 'You look confused—fire away.'
Technical
Uncommon except in media or public speaking contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fire away”
- Using it in formal written contexts.
- Saying 'fire out' instead of 'fire away'.
- Using it as a noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and conversational, not suitable for very formal writing.
Rarely; it's strongly associated with inviting questions, though sometimes extended metaphorically.
It comes from the 18th-century military command to begin shooting weapons, later metaphorically extended to speaking/questioning.
They are synonyms, but 'fire away' is slightly more common in British English; 'shoot' is more American.
To begin asking questions freely, often in an interview or Q&A context.
Fire away: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfaɪər əˈweɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfaɪr əˈweɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shoot from the hip”
- “Open fire”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a starting pistol firing to begin a race—'fire away' signals the start of questioning.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUESTIONS ARE PROJECTILES (fired from a weapon)
Practice
Quiz
In which situation would 'fire away' be most appropriate?