a burning house

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a burning house" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a house that is on fire or to symbolize a situation that is chaotic or in crisis. Example: "The firefighters rushed to the scene of a burning house, trying to save anyone trapped inside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Second, suppose I am morally required to perform a certain action, say, to save someone from a burning house thereby risking some moderate burns in the process.

SEP

This ending concerns a caged bird in a burning house.

The Guardian - Books

"A fireman doesn't stay away from a burning house because he's afraid of fire".

The New York Times

AHUAS, Honduras -- The orange glow of a burning house brightened the morning sky.

The New York Times

I could never be a firefighter and go into a burning house.

The New York Times

Wojnarowicz began doing work with stencils, like one of a burning house.

The New York Times - Books

On the way, they saw a burning house, most likely ignited by a flying ember.

The New York Times

Hence the question: Do I really want to be integrated into a burning house?

The New Yorker

You gather things up like a person who leaves a burning house, which means very randomly".

The New York Times - Books

Nearby, the smoke of a burning house rose from the charred rafters.

The New York Times

It's the item I'd run back into a burning house to rescue.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a burning house" metaphorically, ensure the context clearly establishes the comparison to a chaotic or crisis-ridden situation. The image should resonate with the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "a burning house" repeatedly in purely descriptive writing. Opt for more varied language like "a house on fire" or specific details about the blaze to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a burning house" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "burning" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "house". Ludwig AI examples show its use in both literal and figurative contexts, describing an actual house on fire or a metaphorical situation of crisis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a burning house" is a common and grammatically sound expression used both literally to describe a house on fire and metaphorically to represent a situation in crisis. Ludwig AI confirms its wide usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While its register is generally neutral, more formal settings might require more precise terminology. When using "a burning house" metaphorically, ensure the context provides a clear connection to the intended sense of chaos or urgency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a house on fire

Direct synonym, focusing on the state of the house.

an ablaze home

Synonym, emphasizes the intensity of the fire.

a flaming building

Replaces 'house' with 'building', slightly more general.

a conflagration

More formal term for a large, destructive fire.

a catastrophic fire

Highlights the disastrous nature of the fire.

a disastrous blaze

Emphasizes the negative consequences of the fire.

a structure fire

Technical term used in firefighting contexts.

an inferno

Emphasizes the intensity and uncontrollable nature of the fire.

a raging fire

Focuses on the uncontrolled aspect of the fire.

a devouring fire

Highlights the destructive power of the fire.

FAQs

How can I use "a burning house" in a sentence?

You can use "a burning house" literally, such as "The firefighters rushed to "a burning house"", or metaphorically, like "Trying to fix the company's issues felt like doing carpentry on "a burning house"".

What can I say instead of "a burning house"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a house on fire", "an ablaze home", or "a flaming building".

Is it appropriate to use "a burning house" in formal writing?

While "a burning house" is generally acceptable, consider the specific tone and audience. In highly formal contexts, more precise language like "a structure fire" might be preferable.

What does it mean when someone uses "a burning house" as a metaphor?

Metaphorically, "a burning house" often represents a situation that is rapidly deteriorating, chaotic, and difficult to control, suggesting a crisis or impending disaster.