set fire to

set fire to — idiom

1. to make something burn, especially on purpose and often as a criminal act

1.慣用語B2
釋義

to make something burn, especially on purpose and often as a criminal act

例句

Bao was arrested after witnesses saw him set fire to the neighbour's shed.

criminal context: arrest + witness + set fire to [building]

The detective found evidence that someone had set fire to the abandoned factory.

passive: evidence that someone set fire to [place]

同義詞
  • set on fire

    same meaning; the object goes between 'set' and 'on fire' (e.g. 'set the house on fire')

  • torch

    informal; specifically means to burn a building or vehicle deliberately as a crime

  • ignite

    more formal and technical; can describe both deliberate and accidental burning

反義詞
  • extinguish

    to put out a fire that is already burning

  • douse

    to pour liquid over something to stop it burning

文法句型

person + set fire to + place/thing

用法筆記

This idiom always takes an object after 'to'. The subject is the person or thing that causes the fire, not the thing that burns. It usually implies deliberate action — unlike 'catch fire', which can be accidental. The passive form 'be set fire to' is also common (e.g. 'The car was set fire to overnight').

常見錯誤

❌He set fire the old sofa.
✅He set fire to the old sofa.
💡The preposition 'to' is always required after 'set fire'.
❌The building set fire to during the riot.
✅Protesters set fire to the building during the riot.
💡The subject must be the person who starts the fire, not the thing that burns.