“白热化”，原指物体受热达到白炽（glowing white with heat）的状态，现在比喻竞争、局势发展到最激烈的阶段（in the heat of the battle），可翻译为“white-hot”，例如：竞争趋于白热化（Competition is turning white-hot）。

例句：

争论达到了白热化的程度。

The debate became white-hot.

上周，当竞选活动进行到白热化时，首相启程去了美国。

Last week, in the heat of the election campaign, the Prime Minister left for America.

竞选活动在最后阶段趋于白热化。

The campaign heated up in its final days.