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Get On Like a House on Fire: Meaning, Origin, and Examples
Some friendships take months to build, while others seem to start the moment two people say hello. English has a cheerful idiom for the second kind: get on like a house on fire. In this Dictionary DEV entry, you will find its meaning, pronunciation, origin, examples, synonyms and antonyms, so that you can use it naturally in conversation and in speaking exams.
Get On Like a House on Fire: Meaning
If two people get on like a house on fire, they like each other very much and become close very quickly. The image of a blaze spreading rapidly suggests warmth, energy and speed, so the idiom is entirely positive when it describes relationships.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Idiom | get on like a house on fire |
| Part of speech | Idiomatic verb phrase |
| Pronunciation (UK) | /ɡet ɒn laɪk ə haʊs ɒn ˈfaɪə/ |
| Register | Informal |
| Main meaning | To become good friends almost immediately |
| Variant | North American English: get along like a house on fire |
You may also hear like a house on fire on its own, meaning "extremely well" or "very quickly", as in "The new café started trading like a house on fire." In this sense, it describes success or speed rather than friendship. You can confirm the British and North American forms in the Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries entry for “fire”.
Origin of the Idiom
The exact origin of this expression is not firmly documented, and reputable dictionaries do not give a dated source. What we do know is that like a house on fire has long been used in English to mean "vigorously" or "at great speed", because a burning house is a vivid picture of something spreading quickly and unstoppably. People then attached the phrasal verb get on (to have a friendly relationship) to this image, and the idiom for instant friendship was born.
Example Sentences
- My cousin and my best friend met at my birthday party and got on like a house on fire.
- I was nervous about sharing a flat, but my new housemate and I get on like a house on fire.
- The two goalkeepers are getting on like a house on fire, which has helped the whole squad.
- Our teacher and the exchange students got on like a house on fire during the first lesson.
Synonyms and Antonyms
| Synonyms | Antonyms |
|---|---|
| hit it off | not see eye to eye |
| click with someone | be at loggerheads |
| be on the same wavelength | get on each other’s nerves |
| be as thick as thieves | rub each other up the wrong way |
For a closely related idiom about tight-knit friends, read Thick as Thieves Idiom Meaning. If you want the opposite situation, see Get on Someone’s Nerves Idiom Meaning.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Thinking it is negative: despite the word "fire", the idiom never describes an argument.
- Leaving out the preposition: say get on (British) or get along (American), not "get like a house on fire".
- Using it in formal writing: it is informal, so it suits speaking tests and everyday conversation better than academic essays.
The verb in this idiom is a phrasal verb, so it is worth studying others of the same family in Phrasal Verbs with “Get”: Meanings & Examples. To build a wider stock of expressions, explore 50 Common English Idioms for Daily Conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is “get on like a house on fire” a positive idiom?
Yes. It describes a quick, warm and enjoyable friendship, and it has nothing to do with danger or conflict.
Is it “get on” or “get along” like a house on fire?
Both are correct. “Get on” is the usual British English form, while “get along” is the North American variant. The meaning is the same.
Can I use this idiom in IELTS Speaking?
Yes. It is natural and informal, so it works well when you describe a friend, colleague or family member in Part 1 or Part 2. Avoid it in formal written tasks.
