Meaning
The small, aggressive stinging ants whose bite burns like fire and raises an itchy welt — much feared in the yard, the grass, and the bush. Step on a fire-ant nest and they swarm up your foot and sting all at once. Country children learn early to watch where they stand, and a fire-ant bite is soothed with bush remedies or a dab of blue soap.
Examples
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Mi step pon a fire ants nest an dem bite mi up.
I stepped on a fire-ant nest and they stung me all over.
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Di fire ant bite bun like fire.
The fire-ant bite burns like fire.
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Watch weh yuh stan, fire ants deh deh.
Watch where you stand; there are fire ants there.
Origin
From 'fire' (the burning sting) + 'ant'; the stinging ants. See [[sugar-ant]], [[ants]].
How it’s used
Small aggressive ants with a burning sting. See [[sugar-ant]], [[ants]].