🗓️ Idiom: Play with Fire (V)
💬 Meaning
- Take a big risk that could lead to serious problems.
- Do something dangerous or unwise, especially in business decisions.
🧠 Example Sentences
- Ignoring customer feedback while launching a new product is like playing with fire.
- They were playing with fire by investing all their money into an untested idea.
- Hiring a friend with no experience to run the startup’s finances felt like playing with fire.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom comes from the literal danger of handling fire. Over time, it became a metaphor for risky or dangerous behavior. In business, it refers to decisions that could easily go wrong and cause damage.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
Quitting his stable job without a backup plan was like __________.
Answer
playing with fire
2. Choose the correct meaning:
What does “playing with fire” mean?
A) Making a smart, careful choice
B) Working hard to achieve goals
C) Taking a risky or dangerous action
Answer
C) Taking a risky or dangerous action
3. Change the sentence using “playing with fire”:
“Starting a business without a clear plan or research is extremely risky.”
Answer
Starting a business without a clear plan or research is like playing with fire.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
📚 Learning Resources
👉 Entrepreneur and Startup Idioms
👉 Business English Idioms List
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Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
