1 B2 idiomatic informal
To send a letter, email, or message quickly, often with urgency or strong emotion.
"She fired off an angry email to the customer service team as soon as she got home."
separable
fire off
B2 informal separable transitive
To send something quickly and often forcefully, such as a letter or email, or to shoot a weapon or launch something rapidly.
In plain English
To quickly send a message or letter, often with strong feelings, or to shoot something rapidly.
What does "fire off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To shoot a weapon or launch a projectile.
"The artillery unit fired off several rounds before the ceasefire was announced."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To ask a rapid series of questions.
"The journalists fired off question after question before the politician could answer."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To discharge a gun or launch a projectile.
Actually means
To quickly send a message or letter, often with strong feelings, or to shoot something rapidly.
Usage tip
In the communication sense, often implies the message is written and sent quickly, sometimes in anger or frustration ('fire off an angry email'). In the literal sense, refers to discharging weapons or launching rockets. Both senses convey speed and intensity.
Words that pair with "fire off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
email letter complaint question missile shot
How to conjugate "fire off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
fire off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fires off
he/she/it
Past simple
fired off
yesterday
Past participle
fired off
have + pp
-ing form
firing off
continuous
Hear "fire off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "fire off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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