How the German language plays with fire
Discover German expressions with "fire": Find out why someone would put their hand in a fire for someone, or why you'd want to light up someone's bottom.
Feuer und Flamme für etwas sein
Literally, "to be fire and flame for something," it means to feel passionately about something, to be all for it, to be incredibly enthusiastic.
Für jemanden durchs Feuer gehen
"To walk through a fire for someone" means you would do anything for someone; you have their back.
Mehrere Eisen im Feuer haben
"To have numerous irons in the fire" means to have stakes in several things at once: pursuing several options at the same time to increase your chances of success. Nowadays, we might say "to have a Plan B," and even a C, D, and E!
Mit dem Feuer spielen
It's the same as in English: to play with fire. It's something we teach our kids not to do, but we adults know it's all too tempting.
Für jemanden die Hand ins Feuer legen
"To put your hand in the fire for someone" means you vouch for them. The expression refers back to the Middles Ages, when people would literally have to place their hands in a fire to prove their innocence. The belief was that if they did not burn, the person was not guilty. The more severe the burns, however, the worse the punishment was. Ouch!
Für jemanden die Kartoffeln (oder Kastanien) aus dem Feuer holen
"To fetch the potatoes out of the fire" means to take on an unpleasant task for someone. Its variant, "to fetch chestnuts out of the fire for someone" refers to a fable involving a monkey and a cat. The monkey cons the cat into pulling out chestnuts from a fire, with the cat burning its paw and the monkey gobbling up the nuts. The English "a cat's paw" means being the dupe of another, being used.
Jemandem Feuer unterm Hintern machen
It sounds quite painful: to light a fire under someone's bottom, but it's not malicious. On the contrary: the aim is to get someone moving and cheer them on, motivate them to get something done. We can all use that now and again.