To put your feet on fire is to put pressure on someone to do something, to hold someone accountable, to force someone to comply. The expression that puts someone`s feet in the fire derives from the ordeal of torture used by the Inquisition in the Middle Ages. In the truest sense of the word, one would hold one`s feet on fire or be forced to walk barefoot on hot coals to extract confessions of wrongdoing. The assumption was that if someone was innocent, God would miraculously protect them from evil. Today, the term “putting one`s feet in the fire” is often used in situations where someone is reluctant to take responsibility or take necessary action. Related expressions are, holding someone`s feet to fire, holding someone`s feet to fire, holding someone`s feet to fire. But what could be more irresponsible than playing with the fire of an imaginary civil war in France today? However, I fear that Biden, if he becomes president, will compromise too easily; Progressives will have to put their feet in the fire and ensure that incrementalism does not turn into pre-emptive capitulation. (The Antelope Valley Press) personal, social, political or legal pressure on someone to comply with their wishes; to hold someone accountable for their actions. » name=`description`> He stepped forward and took her hands, and if Mrs. Vivian had entered, she would have seen him kneeling at her daughter`s feet. Wallace astutely and meticulously interviewed Trump`s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and put his feet in the fire when asked if the president lied about the two secret money crimes that authorities in the Southern District of New York said Trump had directed.
(USA Today) The clearest came on Tuesday, when Warren called Bloomberg “self-centered” on Twitter and challenged his opponents to keep their feet in the fire. (The Seattle Times) Example sentence: No, but there is a scenario in which we could negotiate. If Musk were to leave, Twitter would likely step up in the fire and sue him in Delaware under the terms of the deal. Since the dispute affects both parties, both parties could try to negotiate a new price. In a strictly legal sense, however, Musk`s hand is not strong. Also, keep someone`s feet by the fire. Pressure someone to accept or do something, because the only way to get them to agree is to keep their feet on the fire. This phrase alludes to an age-old test of courage or a form of torture in which a person`s feet were placed in this way.
It began to be used figuratively in the second half of the 1900s. See also Hold a gun to someone`s head. Sleek finds this much more difficult than happiness; But he pursues his will with untiring energy. “Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby away from television,” she continued. France 24 broadcasts both scenes live day and night. For a person with anorexia, self-hunger makes them feel better. – Did we make a mistake? – Do you have any comments or suggestions on how we can improve? […] Bruce in his article Feet to the Fire on his blog Idiomation […] And yes, someone once called Spencer a “Small Fry”, har har. Oh wow!! It is one of those that, although not the origin of a proverb in the Middle Ages, have a literal counterpart as a possible basis from which the phrase comes. It`s so cool!.