| 释义 |
DictionarySeefatthe fat is in the fire
the fat is in the fireProblems are about to begin. Just so you know, Mom found out you lied to her. The fat is in the fire now, huh?See also: fat, firefat is in the fireProv. Matters have come to a crisis; trouble is about to start. Brother: Mom found out that we broke the clock. Sister: Uh-oh. The fat's in the fire now. The fat is in the fire at work; we're nowhere near finishing the project, but the deadline is in two days.See also: fat, firefat is in the fire, theA course of action with inevitable bad consequences has begun; there's trouble ahead. For example, Now the fat's in the fire-the boss arrived early and will see we haven't even started work . This expression, with its allusion to fat dropping into a fire and causing a burst of flames, was already a proverb in John Heywood's 1546 collection. See also: fatthe fat is in the fire If the fat is in the fire, someone has said or done something which is going to upset other people and cause a lot of trouble. It was too late. The media had reported the minister's statement and the fat was in the fire. Note: You can say that someone pulls the fat out of the fire when they prevent or stop trouble by taking action at a very late stage. The chairman has resigned but whether the remaining management can pull the fat out of the fire remains to be seen. Note: When food is being cooked over a fire, if fat or oil falls into the fire, the flames suddenly burn very fiercely. See also: fat, firethe fat is in the fire something has been said or done that is about to cause trouble or anger. This expression refers to the sizzling and spitting caused by a spillage of cooking fat into an open flame. It was first used, in the mid 16th century, to indicate the complete failure of a plan or enterprise.See also: fat, firethe fat is in the ˈfire (informal) something has been said or done that is certain to cause anger, fighting, offended feelings or other trouble: The fat’s in the fire now. Jim has just told his wife that he has taken a job in another town without mentioning it to her first.See also: fat, fire the fat is in the fire Bad consequences are sure to follow; trouble lies ahead.See also: fat, firefat is in the fire, theIt’s too late for a rescue; a crisis is imminent. This expression already appeared in John Heywood’s proverb collection of 1546 in its present form and has continued to be used with great regularity to the present day. A long-lived cliché that is by no means obsolete, it refers, of course, to the way a fire flares up when grease is spilled into it, an idea soon transferred to the more general sense that damage has been done.See also: fat |