Getting on

[burston]

Getting on like a house on fire. Where on earth does this phrase come from ?

[taliesin238]

When a house is on fire the house and fire become connected really fast!! Fire spreads really quickly cos the house has so many things in it to feed the fire!! Does that make any sense???

[VS Prasad]

The Oxford English Dictionary lists "like a house on fire (afire)" among proverbial colloquial phrases containing "house." Its definition is "as fast as a house would burn; very fast or vigorously." To my mind the phrase suggests frenzied activity and applies better to, say, working than to something quieter like getting along. But if you meant that people got along well, your listeners probably understood you.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary:

like a house on fire -
1) very well -
Example: The two children got on with each other like a house on fire.

2) very quickly -
Example: I'm getting through this job like a house on fire.
http://www.allwords.com/query.php?SearchType=0 &Keyword=like+a+house+on+fire&goquery=Find+it% 21&Language=ENG&NLD=1&FRA=1&DEU=1&ITA=1&ESP=1