available to burn

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "available to burn" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something is ready or has the capacity to be used up, often in relation to resources or time. Example: "I have some vacation days available to burn before the end of the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

This allows more fuel to be burned (since there is more oxygen available to burn it with) and thus provides a burst of extra power.

The Economist

Everything's available to burn".

Independent

Once these recent recruits are trained, they are available to burn fuel even during easy-does-it workouts.

The New York Times

The dash for gas, she says, will "simply increase the total amount of fossil fuels available to burn, accelerating what is already beginning to look like a rush towards disaster".

The Guardian

"There's just a lot more fuel in those dead forests available to burn," said Bob Harrington, the Montana state forester, who is focusing additional resources this summer on a three-million-acre zone of beetle-infested forest from Butte to Helena.

The New York Times

Of all the kindling available to burn in the recent boom, the easy money from hot initial public offerings was perhaps the most flammable.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

There's just a massive accumulation of fuel for the fire just available and ready to burn.

Huffington Post

Along with libation and the sacrificial effusion of blood, one of the commonest means of making an oblation available to sacred beings is to burn it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But more and more vehicles are also able to burn commercially available ethanol fuels like E85--85percentent grain alcohol -- and kits can also be bought that allow cars to burn an even higher percentage of ethanol.

The New York Times

These observations raise a question whether individuals with higher VLF spectral power and higher adiponectinemia/lower insulin resistance might enjoy a better sympatho-thermogenic capability to "burn" the available energy while more readily inducing lipolysis processes, than those individuals with lower VLF tone.

F1000Research

"At this pace, they're going to burn through the available credits," said Alan Ohnsman, spokesman for TrueCar.com, an automotive pricing and information website.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing environmental conditions conducive to wildfires, use "available to burn" to highlight the abundance of fuel. For example, "Dry vegetation and fallen leaves are readily available to burn, increasing the risk of wildfires."

Common error

Avoid using "available to burn" too loosely in metaphorical senses where the literal meaning doesn't clearly apply. For instance, instead of saying "His energy was available to burn," consider alternatives like "He had energy to spare" or "He was full of energy" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "available to burn" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes something's capacity or readiness to be consumed by fire or, metaphorically, to be used up or expended. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

42%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "available to burn" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression primarily used to describe materials ready for combustion or, metaphorically, resources ready for expenditure. It appears most frequently in news and media, and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. When using the phrase, consider the context to ensure clarity and avoid overuse in overly metaphorical situations. Related phrases such as "ready for combustion" or "primed for combustion" can provide alternative nuances, it's also important to remember that source and register depends on the context, and may change accordingly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ready for combustion

Focuses specifically on the readiness for burning, often in a literal sense.

ready to be ignited

Emphasizes the potential for ignition and starting a fire.

prepared to be consumed

Highlights the aspect of being used up or destroyed by fire.

set to be incinerated

Implies a more controlled and deliberate burning process.

liable to catch fire

Indicates a high probability of starting to burn, often due to specific conditions.

susceptible to burning

Highlights vulnerability and ease of ignition.

ripe for incineration

Suggests that conditions are optimal for burning something completely.

in a state to be burned

A more descriptive alternative, emphasizing the current condition of readiness.

primed for combustion

Emphasizes that conditions have been optimized to start a fire or burning process.

disposed to be burned

Implies a willingness or inevitability of being burned, often as a means of disposal.

FAQs

How can I use "available to burn" in a sentence?

You can use "available to burn" to describe materials that can easily catch fire, as in, "The dry brush was "ready for combustion" and "available to burn"." It can also describe resources, like money: "The company had cash "to burn"."

What is a good substitute for the phrase "available to burn"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "ready to burn", "combustible", "flammable", or if referring to resources, consider "plentiful" or "abundant".

Is it correct to say "resources are available to burn"?

Yes, it is correct. "Available to burn" accurately describes resources that can be used up or expended, whether literally through combustion or figuratively through spending or consumption.

What is the difference between "ready to burn" and "available to burn"?

"Ready to burn" implies immediate preparedness for combustion. "Available to burn" suggests that the material exists and can be burned when needed, but may not be in a state of immediate readiness. For example, money is available to burn when someone has a lot of money available for expenses.