Meaning & use
walk through fire
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Meanings
phraseidiom
to be willing to face great danger or pain to help or support someone you care about
Grammar: Used with 'would' or 'will' and followed by 'for' plus a person: I would walk through fire for her.
Patterns
- would walk through fire for someone
- walk through fire for someone
- walk through fire to do something
He said he would walk through fire for his brother.
She is so loyal that she would walk through fire for her friends.
They would walk through fire to protect their children.
phraseidiom
to endure a very difficult or painful experience in order to achieve something
Grammar: Often used with 'to' plus a verb: walk through fire to succeed. It can also stand alone: He walked through fire for that job.
Patterns
- walk through fire to do something
- walk through fire for something
She walked through fire to get her degree while working full-time.
Many people walk through fire to start their own business.
He walked through fire for years before becoming a doctor.
Common combinations
- would walk through fire for someone
- My best friend would walk through fire for me.
- walk through fire to do something
- She walked through fire to make her dream come true.
- walk through fire for something
- He walked through fire for his country.
- walk through fire and back
- They have walked through fire and back together.
- walk through fire for love
- Some people walk through fire for love.
Synonyms and how they differ
- go through hell
- Similar meaning of suffering greatly, but 'go through hell' often emphasizes the pain itself rather than the willingness to face it for someone.
- move heaven and earth
- This means to do everything possible to achieve something, often not involving personal danger or loyalty to a person.
- bend over backwards
- This means to try very hard to help or please someone, but it does not imply facing danger or extreme hardship.
Commonly confused: walk through fire or walk on fire?
walk through fire vs walk on fire
This is a literal phrase meaning to walk on hot coals, often as a religious or motivational activity. 'Walk through fire' is figurative and means to face danger or hardship.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'walk through fire' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The idiom means to be willing to face great danger or pain for someone. Only option B uses it in this figurative sense with 'for' plus a person. The other options use it literally or in a way that does not fit the idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “walk through fire”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.