go through fire and water

verb

To undertake any amount of trouble or risk to achieve some end.

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Meanings

verbgo through fire and water (third-person singular simple present goes through fire and water, present participle going through fire and water, simple past went through fire and water, past participle gone through fire and water)

present singular third person goes through fire and water · participle present going through fire and water · past went through fire and water · participle past gone through fire and water

  1. datedTo undertake any amount of trouble or risk to achieve some end.

Origin

Referring to ancient ordeals. Presumably Psalms 66:12.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish mennä läpi harmaan kiven
  • mennä läpi harmaan kivenTranslations
Hebrew בָּא בָאֵשׁ וּבַמַּיִם
  • בָּא בָאֵשׁ וּבַמַּיִם (ba vaésh uvamáyim)Translations
Polish skoczyć w ogień
  • skoczyć w ogieńTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“go through fire and water.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20through%20fire%20and%20water. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “go through fire and water,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20through%20fire%20and%20water.

Source: go through fire and water on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.