spread like wildfire

USAGE SUMMARY

"spread like wildfire" is an appropriate and commonly used expression in written English.
It means that something has spread, or been shared, quickly and easily. For example, "The rumors about layoffs spread like wildfire through the office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Recipes, like one for homemade yogurt, "spread like wildfire" in the community, she said.

The New York Times - Food

Word spread like wildfire.

The Guardian

Concept spread like wildfire.

MIT Technology Review

"It spread like wildfire," she said.

Independent

The story spread like wildfire.

The Guardian - Music

News of the arrests spread like wildfire.

The New York Times

"It can spread like wildfire".

The Guardian

Then it spread like wildfire.

Nature

But the strike didn't spread like wildfire.

The New York Times

"They spread like wildfire," he said.

The New York Times

Word of his order spread like wildfire.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spread like wildfire" to vividly describe how quickly information, ideas, or trends become widely known or adopted. Ensure the context involves rapid and often uncontrollable dissemination.

Common error

While "spread like wildfire" is effective, overuse can diminish its impact. Consider alternatives like "rapidly disseminate" or "go viral" to maintain freshness in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spread like wildfire" functions as a verb phrase that modifies a noun, describing the manner in which something (e.g., news, disease, idea) propagates or disseminates. As evidenced by Ludwig, this idiom is frequently used to emphasize the speed and extent of the spread.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

11%

Science & Research

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "spread like wildfire" is a common and vivid way to describe the rapid and uncontrollable dissemination of information, ideas, or phenomena. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used. While generally neutral in register, it is more suitable for news, media, and informal contexts than strictly formal academic or scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure the context involves swift and extensive propagation. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives such as "rapidly disseminate" or "go viral" to maintain writing freshness. Top sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase, affirming its widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rapidly disseminate

Emphasizes the speed of distribution but is more formal.

quickly propagate

Highlights the fast reproduction or spread, suitable for technical contexts.

swiftly circulate

Focuses on the speed and breadth of circulation, often used for information or news.

mushroom rapidly

Implies a fast and expansive growth, similar to the spread of a mushroom colony.

gain traction quickly

Suggests a fast increase in popularity or acceptance.

take off like a rocket

Emphasizes the sudden and dramatic increase in popularity or success.

become an instant hit

Focuses on the immediate popularity and success of something.

go viral

Specifically refers to the rapid spread of content online.

sweep the nation

Indicates a widespread impact across an entire country.

become widespread

A more general term for something becoming common or prevalent.

FAQs

How can I use "spread like wildfire" in a sentence?

Use "spread like wildfire" to describe something that disseminates rapidly and uncontrollably. For example, "The news of the celebrity's engagement "spread like wildfire" on social media."

What can I say instead of "spread like wildfire"?

You can use alternatives like ""rapidly disseminate"", "swiftly circulate", or ""go viral"" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "spread like wildfire" in formal writing?

While "spread like wildfire" is widely understood, it may be considered somewhat informal. In highly formal contexts, consider more neutral alternatives such as ""rapidly disseminate"" or "become widespread".

What does it mean when something is described as "spreading like wildfire"?

It means that information, a trend, or a phenomenon is rapidly and uncontrollably spreading among people, similar to how a fire quickly expands through dry vegetation.