短语putting out fires通常指在工作环境中解决很多小的问题，问题虽小，但很棘手，需要在恶化前快速解决。
- Sorry I didn't have time to meet you for lunch today. I was busy at work all day putting out fires.
- Sometimes it feels like you get nothing done in the office – you need to spend the whole day putting out fires.
值得注意的是，短语to get on like a house on fire字面意思是“相处就像房子着火”，实际用来形容两个人一拍即和、一见如故，关系处得很好。
- Phoebe and Alice get on like a house on fire. They share exactly the same sense of humour and are always joking and laughing together.
