Skip to main content
to feel the burn

to feel the burn

5 8.0
To have a strong burning feeling in the muscles during hard exercise
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : sentir el ardor
  • During my workout, I could feel the burn as I lifted heavier weights than usual.
  • still feel the burn
  • now feel the burn
  • feel the burn! Now go

Really squeeze at the top and you'll really feel the burn.

Autoplay Next

Examples

Synonyms

burning
vsto feel the burn
45 3.9

A hot, painful feeling on the skin like fire

is felt specifically in muscles after intense exercise
searing
vsto feel the burn
4.1

A very hot burning pain that hurts a lot

is intense but limited to muscle sensation during or after exercise
painful sensation
vsto feel the burn
4.8

A sharp uncomfortable feeling in the body when something hurts

is a hot, muscle-focused sensation occurring during or after intense exercise

Antonyms

1.6

Feeling relaxed and not worried about people or situations

241 1.0

Calm and not worried

How Intense

to feel the burn
  • Informal
5 8.0
to tingle
43 3.5

Surface Forms

feel the burn infinitive
felt the burn past participle
feeling the burn present participle
feels the burn third person singular

Morphology

feel + the + burn

The phrase combines 'feel' (to experience) with 'burn' (a painful hot sensation), so the meaning — experiencing a burning sensation in the muscles during/after exercise — is directly derivable from the constituents. Although 'burn' here is a slightly metaphorical extension (muscle soreness rather than literal skin burn), the compositional relation is clear and common, so a B1 learner who knows the words will likely understand it.

Etymology

The phrase feel the burn comes from exercise. When you push your muscles hard you can feel a hot, tired feeling called the burn, so to feel the burn means 'to have a strong burning feeling in your muscles'.