Definition

1. Adverb:

   • Extremely, very: Used as an intensifier to emphasize the degree of an adjective or another adverb, often conveying a sense of strong emotion or emphasis.

2. Adjective:

   • Extreme, great: Used as an intensifier before a noun to add strong emphasis, often implying excess or an unusual degree.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:

  • Why are you so all-fired aggressive? (This emphasizes the high degree of aggressiveness.)
  • He was all-fired determined to finish the project. (This stresses the extreme level of his determination.)

• Adjective:

  • Why is he in such an all-fired hurry? (This intensifies the noun "hurry," suggesting it is excessive.)
  • She made an all-fired mess of the situation. (This emphasizes the severity of the mess.)

Advanced Usage

• Emphatic Informal Use: "All-fired" is primarily used in informal American English for strong emphasis. It can sometimes carry a tone of frustration, surprise, or admiration.

  • That was an all-fired good meal! (Expressing strong approval.)
  • What's the all-fired rush? (Expressing annoyance at the excessive hurry.)

• Position in a Sentence: As an adverb, it typically comes before the adjective or adverb it modifies. As an adjective, it comes before the noun it modifies.

  • Adverb: all-fired + [adjective/adverb]
  • Adjective: all-fired + [noun]

Variants and Related Words

• All-firedly (adv., rare): An even less common adverbial form.
  • He argued all-firedly for his point. (He argued extremely vigorously.)

Synonyms

• Adverb: Extremely, terribly, awfully, damned, bloody (UK informal), incredibly.
• Adjective: Extreme, tremendous, enormous, excessive.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Good and all-fired: A reinforcing phrase for emphasis.
  • He was good and all-fired ready to leave. (He was completely and extremely ready.)

Notes on Usage

• Register: This word is considered informal and is more common in American English, particularly in colloquial or regional speech.
• Connotation: It often adds emotional weight, which can be positive (e.g., ) or negative (e.g., ), depending on context.
• Etymology: The term likely originated as a euphemistic alteration of "hell-fired," used to avoid direct profanity while retaining intensive force.

Adverb

1. extremely
   • you are bloody right
   • Why are you so all-fired aggressive?

Adjective

1. extreme; used as an intensifier
   • why is he in such an all-fired hurry?