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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Get on like a house on fire

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

To like each other immediately and become friendly very quickly.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. My sister and my flatmate got on like a house on fire.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

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Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

To like each other immediately and become friendly very quickly.
Show the answer

Get on like a house on fire — To like each other immediately and become friendly very quickly.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Get on like a house on fire” about your own life.

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Does your sentence match this meaning?

To like each other immediately and become friendly very quickly.

Compare: My sister and my flatmate got on like a house on fire.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it informally when two people quickly develop an easy, enthusiastic friendship or working relationship.

More examples in context

  • We started chatting about books and got on like a house on fire.
  • The two new volunteers are getting on like a house on fire.

Usage note

Despite the fire imagery, this is positive. It describes a lively connection between people, not an argument or an emergency.

A short conversation

A: Did your cousin enjoy meeting your friends?
B: Yes, they got on like a house on fire and talked for hours.
A: That must have made the evening easy.

One more practice question

What does “They got on like a house on fire” mean?

A. They quickly liked each other and became very friendly.
B. They argued constantly and refused to speak.

Check your answer

A. The idiom describes an immediate, positive connection.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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