set a business on fire
オレゴン州ポートランドで、メーデーである１日に、反トランプデモが暴動に発展し、25人が逮捕されました。
25 arrested in Portland May Day violence after protesters hurl bottles, Molotov cocktails at police
Twenty five people were arrested during a May Day march in downtown Portland, Oregon, after protesters threw bottles and other items at police officers monitoring the event, authorities said.
The Portland Police Bureau said that lead balls, smoke bombs, paint, glass bottles and full cans of Pepsi were "launched" at police. Officers were forced to put on protective helmets and other protective equipment due to the items that were being thrown at them, police said. At one point there were attempts to set a business on fire, according to police.
The bureau on Tuesday shared mugshots for 22 of the 25 suspects who were arrested in "riots" that broke out at the march. Police said the suspects, most of whom were arrested for disorderly conduct, ranged from ages 17 to 44.
取り上げる表現は、"set a business on fire"です。"set ~ on fire"は「〜に火をつける」という意味でお馴染みですが、"a business"が付くことでどのような意味になるのでしょうか。
『ジーニアス英和辞典』第４版（大修館）で調べてみると、"set the world on fire"で「（世間をあっと驚かせるようなことをして）大成功する、名声を博する」とありました。ここでは、似たような意味で使われており、「"business"に「事件、出来事、厄介なこと」という意味があるため、「世間をあっと驚かせ、厄介なことで気を引こうとした（注目を浴びようとした）」というニュアンスが含まれていると考えられます。メーデーにちなんで"business"が表現の中に使われたのではと推測できます。(Akim)
