Burning question

Definitions

• a pressing or urgent question that needs to be answered
  Used to describe a question or issue that is causing intense curiosity or concern, often in a situation where an answer or resolution is needed quickly.

• a question that is constantly on someone's mind
  Refers to a question or topic that is constantly on someone's mind, causing them to be preoccupied or unable to focus on other things.

• a question that is controversial or highly debated
  Describes a question or topic that is highly debated or controversial, often causing strong opinions and emotions among those discussing it.

• an unanswerable or impossible question
  Used to describe a question that is impossible to answer or that does not have a clear solution, often causing frustration or confusion.

Examples of Burning question

• The journalist's burning question at the press conference was, "How do you plan to address the issue of corruption in your administration?"

  "Burning question" is an idiom that means a question that is urgent, important, and needs to be answered immediately. In this example, the journalist's question is important and needs to be addressed by the person being interviewed at the press conference. The phrase "burning" is used to emphasize the urgency and importance of the question.

• The chef's burning question was, "What ingredient did you use to make this dish so delicious?"

  In this example, the chef is asking a question that is urgent and important because he wants to know the secret ingredient that makes the dish so delicious. The phrase "burning" is used to emphasize the urgency and importance of the question.

• The athlete's burning question was, "How did you manage to break the world record in the 100-meter sprint?"

  In this example, the athlete is asking a question that is urgent and important because he wants to know how the person he is talking to managed to break the world record in the 100-meter sprint. The phrase "burning" is used to emphasize the urgency and importance of the question.

• The student's burning question was, "How do I solve this math problem?"

  In this example, the student is asking a question that is urgent and important because he wants to know how to solve a math problem. The phrase "burning" is used to emphasize the urgency and importance of the question.

• The detective's burning question was, "Who committed the crime?"

  In this example, the detective is asking a question that is urgent and important because he wants to know who committed the crime. The phrase "burning" is used to emphasize the urgency and importance of the question.

Conclusion

The idiom "burning question" is commonly used to describe a question or issue that is pressing, urgent, or constantly on someone's mind. It can also refer to a question that is controversial or highly debated, or one that is unanswerable or impossible to solve. Overall, the phrase conveys a sense of intensity and importance surrounding the question at hand.

Origin of "Burning question"

The origins of the idiom "burning question" are not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in the 16th century. In those times, the word "burning" was often used to describe something that was urgent or pressing. Therefore, a "burning question" would refer to a question that needed to be answered urgently or was causing great concern.

Another theory suggests that the phrase may have come from the practice of burning questions into wooden tablets or stones, which were used as a form of communication in ancient civilizations. These questions would be presented to rulers or leaders, and the answers would be carved into the same tablet or stone. The idea of a question burning into a physical object could have evolved into the modern usage of the idiom.

Regardless of its exact origins, the idiom "burning question" has become a commonly used phrase in the English language, conveying a sense of urgency or importance surrounding a particular question or issue.