Waching daily Jun 3 2017

English Winners. It's been a while since we've done one of these, so I'd like to

continue and round out the four elements of business English idioms. This time,

we're going to do fire. Baptism by fire: 'When you feel you are about to lose and

you keep fighting, that's baptism by fire.' Baptism is a word

that comes from Christianity. It means to lower your entire body under the water.

Fire is a symbol of hardship or difficult times,

so baptism by fire means to go into a difficult situation, often without being

prepared. It is often used to describe a new soldier and their first experience

in a battle. Fight fire with fire.

'If they are going to file lawsuits, we will hire

some lawyers of our own and fight fire with fire.'

Fighting fire with fire means to use the same weapon against a rival or enemy

that that enemy is using against you. Fire away. 'I have some questions for you.

Oh really? Fire away.' Fire away means to ask someone a lot of questions. These

questions are often critical of the person answering them. Fire on all

cylinders. 'After three days on a vegetable juice fast, I am firing on all

cylinders.' This phrase comes from cars and trucks. Cylinders are part of an

automobile engine... the thing that makes the car run. If something is firing on

all cylinders, that means it is working at the highest level... be it the most

efficient, fastest, or most productive. Just like a machine, firing on all

cylinders can also refer to a person.

Fire (something) up:

'Fire up the computer.' To fire something up means to start

something, usually a machine.

Fired up: 'The kids are fired up to go on the field trip.'

Fired up means to be enthusiastic about something, or excited.

Have a lot of irons in the fire:

'If this doesn't work, I'm not worried. I have a lot of irons in

the fire.' Having a lot of irons in the fire means to work several jobs at the

same time, but it can also mean that someone is working on or pursuing

several opportunities - all at the same time. This comes from Blacksmithing, where

iron was heated in a fire to make different types of tools and weapons.

Hold (someone's) feet to the fire: 'Some negotiators are nice, but others

will hold your feet to the fire.' This comes from torture, where somebody was

forced to undergo a lot of pain until they provided information to the person

causing that pain. If you put fire to someone's feet, obviously it hurts. In

this idiom, it has a figurative meaning... to put pressure on someone until they

make a decision. So, to hold someone's feet to the fire is to put pressure on

someone - which could be mental, by the way - until they make the decision that works for you.

Number nine: if you play with fire, you'll get burned. 'Some people

compete pretty viciously; if you play with fire, you'll get burned.' Now this is

a warning. It's obvious to us that if you touch fire, it will burn you. Some other

actions can also lead to injury or pain or loss, and those things are often

warned about using the phrase: if you play with fire, you'll get burned.

And lastly, keep the home fires burning: 'I need someone to keep the home fires

burning while I attend the conference.' This comes from when we heated homes

with fire; in some places they still do. By having someone keep the fires burning,

the house will stay warm once the owner returns. This works not just with homes;

it also works with maintaining the operations of a business or a factory - to

make sure everything runs smoothly - while the owner is away. That's it for the

first part of - hopefully - three parts on fire-based idioms that will help you in

the English speaking world of business. If you like this video, please SUBSCRIBE

down below. If you have an idiom you want explained, write it in the comments.

Share. Hit that LIKE button, and be sure to check out the playlists I have right

up here. Until then, keep winning English Winners. I'll see you later.