fire towards

USAGE SUMMARY

"fire towards" is not a correct or commonly used phrase in written English.
It is possible that someone may use it informally in spoken English, but it should not be used in formal writing. Instead, you could use phrases such as "shoot at," "aim at," or "direct fire towards" depending on the context. Example: The soldiers were instructed to aim their guns at the target and fire towards it until they ran out of ammunition.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Sport

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Soon afterwards the Israeli military responded, launching artillery fire towards the source of the rockets.

Independent

Firefighters were concerned the winds may push the fire towards Swan Bay and Medowie.

The Guardian

Kiev's forces appeared to be laying down suppressing fire towards the town to help their comrades retreat.

The Guardian

The brush caught fire towards the end of a 10-year drought, during Australia's warmest decade on record.

The Economist

Your correspondent watched a gunman step into a street where red shirts had taken cover and calmly aim a burst of automatic fire towards the army lines.

The Economist

Your correspondent watched a gunman step into the street where red shirts had taken cover and calmly direct a burst of fire towards the army lines.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Besides, the fire attack towards FRP is another safety concern in composite structures.

Construction and Building Materials

Israeli soldiers "responded by firing towards the origin of fire".

The New Yorker

He turns and fires towards Dean Lyness, who saves well.

The Guardian - Sport

Jindal commended the first respondents, who he said "ran towards the shots fired, towards danger".

The Guardian

After firing warning shots at him, the soldiers had then "fired towards the suspect".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more precise and commonly accepted alternatives such as "shoot at" or "aim at" to enhance clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "fire towards" in formal writing, as it's not a standard or widely recognized phrase. Using clearer alternatives avoids ambiguity and makes your writing more professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fire towards" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of discharging a weapon in a specific direction. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this is not a standard or commonly used phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sport

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "fire towards" is used to describe directing gunfire or projectiles, Ludwig AI suggests that it is not a standard or grammatically correct phrase in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts but is absent in formal academic or scientific writing. Therefore, opting for clearer and more accepted alternatives like "shoot at" or "aim at" will enhance the clarity and professionalism of your writing. It's essential to prioritize precision and adherence to standard language conventions to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shoot at

A more direct and common way to indicate aiming and shooting at a target.

aim at

Focuses on the act of directing a weapon or projectile at a specific target.

direct fire at

Emphasizes the intentional direction of gunfire toward a specific target or area.

open fire on

Implies initiating an attack by shooting at someone or something.

discharge towards

Formal and less common, but indicates the act of releasing a projectile in a specific direction.

volley towards

Describes a simultaneous discharge of multiple projectiles in a specific direction.

unleash a barrage on

Indicates a heavy and continuous outpouring of projectiles at a target.

train guns on

Suggests directing the focus and firepower of multiple weapons towards a specific point.

bombard with

Describes an intense and overwhelming attack using bombs or similar projectiles.

launch towards

Suggests sending something forcefully in the direction of a target, not necessarily gunfire.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "fire towards"?

Instead of "fire towards", consider using more common and precise phrases like "shoot at", "aim at", or "direct fire at" depending on the context.

Is "fire towards" grammatically correct?

While the phrase "fire towards" might be understood, it's not considered standard English. It's better to use more established phrases like "shoot at" or "aim at" for clarity and correctness.

When is it appropriate to use "fire towards"?

It's generally best to avoid "fire towards" in formal writing. In informal contexts, it might be used, but clearer alternatives are usually preferable. More accurate phrases are "open fire on" and "direct fire at".

What's the difference between "fire towards" and "shoot at"?

"Shoot at" is a more direct and commonly used phrase indicating an attempt to hit something with a projectile. "Fire towards" is less common and can sound awkward; therefore, "shoot at" is generally the better choice.