To Jump From A Frying Pan Into Fire Idiom Meaning, Examples, Synonyms, and Quiz

The “to jump from a frying pan into fire” idiom refers to going from a bad to a worse situation. The phrase is often used when a bad situation turns critical. 

This expression, which refers to the act of trying to flee a smoke but ending up burnt by the flames, is derived from first-century Greek poetry. It was initially used by the poet Caesar Germanicus to describe the destiny of a hare that attempted to flee from a dog by jumping into the sea, only to be devoured by a sea dog. 

The following time it was mentioned was in the Latin seafarer’s tale, where it was stated that one of the characters ran on Scylla in an effort to escape Charybdis. Once more, this adage was found in a collection of Aesop’s fables, where a character urged his companions to leap into the river to save themselves, but when they did, they landed on blazing coals. 

Usage with Examples

Here are some examples of the use of “to jump from a frying pan into fire” idiom in sentences:

• She agreed to get married young in an effort to become more independent, unaware that she was jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
• Shifting from my old school to this one, it’s like jumping from a frying pan into a fire. 
• I wanted to stop the leak, but the pipe was so ancient that it was jumping from a frying pan into a fire. 
• When I went to apologise, Liza began yelling at me in front of everyone. I felt like I had jumped from a frying pan into a fire. 

Also Read: Useful Idioms with Examples, Sentences and Meanings

Synonyms and Similar Words of To Jump From A Frying Pan Into Fire

Synonyms of “to jump from a frying pan into fire” idiom are:

• To go into a worse situation,
• When a bad situation gets critical,
• Moving from a difficult situation to a worse one. 

To Jump From A Frying Pan Into Fire Idiom Meaning Quiz

When I relocated to a new city, I had no idea that I was:

1. Jumping from a frying pan into a fire.
2. Jumping into water. 
3. Jumping from a plane.

Correct Answer: a) Jumping from a frying pan into a fire.

Also Read: 150 Common Difficult Idioms with Examples 

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