What does the phrasal verb “fire off” mean?

What are the definitions of “fire off”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Send quickly, angrily or many ( letter, emails, etc ).

  He FIRED OFF an email complaining about the report.

• 2. Shoot, fire a gun ( usually repeatedly ).

  The police FIRED OFF several rounds and killed the man.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “fire off”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb fire off is to send something quickly, often in an angry or urgent manner. It is usually used when talking about sending messages, such as emails or letters.

What are the different verb forms of “fire off”?

Root Verb	fire off
Third Person Singular Present	fires off
Present Participle	firing off
Simple Past	fired off
Past Participle	fired off

Example

She fired off an email to her boss about the issue.

Example

He fires off a text message to his friend.

Example

They are firing off complaints to the company.

Example

Yesterday, she fired off a letter to the editor.

Example

The angry customer fired off several emails to the support team.

What kind of phrasal verb is “fire off”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Transitive verb

“fire off” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.

Example

She fired off an email to her boss.

Example

He fired off a text message to his friend.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“fire off” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

She fired off an email to her boss.

Example

He fired off a text message to his friend.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “fire off”?

Fire off a response

To quickly send a reply to someone, often in a heated or urgent manner.

Example

After reading the negative review, the restaurant owner fired off a response defending his business.

Fire off a shot

To quickly shoot a gun, often in a sudden or unexpected situation.

Example

The hunter fired off a shot when he saw the deer.

Fire off questions

To ask many questions quickly, often in an aggressive or demanding manner.

Example

The reporter fired off questions at the politician during the press conference.

Good things to know

Does “fire off” have an informal or formal tone?

Fire off is generally considered informal and is more commonly used in casual conversations or informal writing. In more formal settings, it is better to use synonyms such as 'send,' 'dispatch,' or 'transmit' when referring to sending messages.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “fire off”?

Synonyms

• send
• dispatch
• transmit
• shoot
• release
• emit
• hasten
• rapidly send

Antonyms for {keyword}

• receive
• hold
• delay
• retain
• withhold
• keep
• accept