get on like a house on fire
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To immediately start a good relationship with someone.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Those two met last Saturday at the party, and because they were both into juggling they got on like a house on fire.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org). Figurative class: Simile (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “get on like a house on fire” mean?
To immediately start a good relationship with someone.
Is “get on like a house on fire” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.