frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

aroused, stirred, stimulated, enthusiastic, fired up, eager,
inspired, excited: The building is on fire: you must leave at
once. My very soul is on fire when I think of you. 6 play with
fire. undertake a risk or hazard or peril, run a risk, risk
(something or everything), imperil or endanger (something),
tempt fate, live dangerously: He warned people not to play with
fire by stirring up racial hatred. 7 set fire to. See 8, below.
--v. 8 a set fire to, set afire, set on fire, ignite, set
alight, kindle, spark (off), put to the torch, burn, Slang US
torch: Arsonists fired our headquarters last night. b
Sometimes, fire up. inflame, impassion, incite, excite, provoke,
foment, whip up, arouse, rouse, work up, fire up, enkindle,
light a fire under, stimulate, inspirit, motivate, move, stir,
animate, inspire, awaken, energize, vitalize, vivify: She fired
the crowd's emotions with her impassioned speech. 9 discharge,
shoot, let go (with), launch, propel, throw, catapult, hurl: He
fired the missile towards the enemy. 10 detonate, set off,
ignite, set fire to, light, let off: It is against the law to
fire any explosives in this area. 11 discharge, dismiss, oust,
let go, cashier, give (someone) notice, Brit make or declare
redundant, Colloq Brit ask for or get (someone's) cards, US give
(someone) a pink slip; Slang bounce, give (someone) the bounce,
axe, give (someone) the axe, show (someone) the door, can, give
(someone) the (old) heave-ho, give (someone) his or her (Brit)
marching orders or (US) walking papers, Brit sack, give
(someone) the sack, boot (someone) out, give (someone) the boot:
They fired me last month and I can't find work.
firm adj. 1 compact, solid, dense, compressed, condensed,
concentrated, rigid, stiff, hard, unyielding, inflexible,
inelastic: I prefer a firm mattress. 2 stable, fixed, fast,
secure, steady, solid, stationary, anchored, moored, unmovable,
immovable: This pole is firmer than that one. 3 steady,
strong, sturdy, tight, unwavering, unshakable or unshakeable,
unswerving: What we need is a firm hand at the controls. 4
resolute, determined, dogged, definite, resolved, positive,
decisive, decided, set on or upon, steadfast, constant,
unflinching, staunch, unshaken, unshakeable or unshakable,
immovable, inflexible, rigid, unwavering, undeviating,
unchanging, unchangeable, obstinate, obdurate, stubborn, strict,
unyielding, unbending, unalterable: Father was firm about my
not staying out past midnight.