# play with fire

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-with-fire
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To put oneself in a precarious situation with a high risk of getting harmed, particularly emotionally or financially.

## Examples

- You are playing with fire if you lie to your boss.
- Investing all your savings in one risky company is playing with fire, and you could lose everything.
- By ignoring the clear warnings from his advisors, the politician was playing with fire and risking his entire career.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.