What does “Out of the frying pan, into the fire” mean?
"Out of the frying pan, into the fire" means going from a bad situation to an even worse one.
What context can I use the in?
Example
After losing his job, he thought things couldn't get worse, but he was out of the frying pan, into the fire when his car broke down.
Example
She thought breaking up with her boyfriend would solve her problems, but she quickly realized she was out of the frying pan, into the fire when she found out he was spreading rumors about her.
Example
They thought moving to a new city would give them a fresh start, but they were out of the frying pan, into the fire when they realized the cost of living was much higher than they anticipated
Is “Out of the frying pan, into the fire” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“Out of the frying pan, into the fire” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “Out of the frying pan, into the fire” effectively in context?
You can use "Out of the frying pan into the fire" to describe a situation where someone moves from one difficult or dangerous situation into another that is even worse. It can refer to literal situations, such as being burned by hot oil while cooking, or to more metaphorical situations, such as leaving one bad job for another.
- 1Job
She thought leaving her current job would solve all her problems, but little did she know that she was out of the frying pan into the fire. The new job turned out to be even more stressful.
- 2Relationship
After finally escaping an abusive relationship, she thought she was safe. However, she soon realized that she had jumped out of the frying pan into the fire when she found herself in another toxic relationship.
- 3Moving
He thought moving to a new city would bring him a fresh start, but it turned out to be out of the frying pan into the fire. The new city had even higher living costs and fewer job opportunities.
Similar phrases to “Out of the frying pan, into the fire”:
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “Out of the frying pan, into the fire” come from?
The origin of the phrase "Out of the frying pan into the fire" is unknown.
Is “Out of the frying pan, into the fire” common in everyday conversation?
Yes, "Out of the frying pan into the fire" is a common proverb used in everyday conversation. It is often used to express the idea of moving from a bad situation to an even worse one.
What tone does “Out of the frying pan, into the fire” have?
"Out of the frying pan into the fire" conveys a tone of caution and warning. It is used to highlight the potential consequences of making hasty decisions or not fully considering the possible outcomes of a situation.
Can “Out of the frying pan, into the fire” be used in informal and formal settings?
The proverb "Out of the frying pan into the fire" can be used in both informal and formal settings. It is a well-known phrase that effectively conveys the idea of moving from one difficult situation to an even worse one. It can be used in conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, as well as in more formal contexts such as presentations or writing.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
It is commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'She thought she was escaping a bad situation, but she ended up jumping "out of the frying pan into the fire".' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the proverb even if used alone, like saying 'Looks like he went "out of the frying pan into the fire" again!' to imply that someone made a poor decision.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- from the frying pan into the fire
- trading one problem for another
- going from bad to worse
- escaping one danger only to face another
- moving from the devil you know to the devil you don't
Antonyms
- from the fire into the frying pan
- escaping danger
- improving the situation
- moving from a bad situation to a better one
- finding a way out
