fire-bug
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who deliberately sets fires: "fire-bug" refers to an individual who intentionally starts fires, often due to psychological compulsion (pyromania) or for criminal purposes.
- A firefly (North American informal): In some regional or colloquial usage, "fire-bug" can mean a firefly or lightning bug, an insect that produces bioluminescent light.
Usage Examples
Person who sets fires:
- The police arrested the fire-bug after a series of arson attacks in the neighborhood. (A person who deliberately started fires.)
- He was known as a fire-bug because he enjoyed watching buildings burn. (Someone with a compulsive urge to set fires.)
Firefly (informal):
- The children caught a fire-bug in a jar and watched it glow at night. (A firefly or lightning bug.)
Advanced Usage
- "fire-bug" as a compound noun: The term is often used in news reports and crime contexts to describe arsonists.
- The fire-bug struck again last night, setting a warehouse ablaze. (An arsonist committed another act of arson.)
Variants and Related Words
Pyromaniac (n): a person with a mental disorder that compels them to set fires.
- The pyromaniac was treated for his condition after being caught. (A person with pyromania.)
Arsonist (n): a person who deliberately sets fire to property for criminal reasons.
- The arsonist was sentenced to ten years in prison. (A person guilty of arson.)
Synonyms
- Incendiary: a person who sets fires deliberately, especially for political or criminal motives.
- Firestarter: a person who starts fires, often used informally.
Phrasal Verbs
Related Idioms
- "Play with fire": to take a dangerous risk.
- By lying to the police, he was playing with fire. (Engaging in risky behavior.)
- "Add fuel to the fire": to make a situation worse.
- Her comments only added fuel to the fire during the argument. (Escalated the conflict.)