baptism by fire

noun

A rite of passage through the survival or success of a crisis or ordeal.

“The new folks really get put through a baptism by fire, to start doing a stressful job with so little training.”

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Meanings

nounbaptism by fire (plural baptisms by fire)

plural baptisms by fire · alternative baptism of fire

  1. A rite of passage through the survival or success of a crisis or ordeal.

    The new folks really get put through a baptism by fire, to start doing a stressful job with so little training.

Origin

From the Bible, Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist said... "and He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire."

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Cite this entry
APA

baptism by fire. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baptism%20by%20fire

MLA

“baptism by fire.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baptism%20by%20fire. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “baptism by fire,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baptism%20by%20fire.

Source: baptism by fire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.