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What does “put out fires” mean?
Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.
C1
To deal with urgent problems one after another, usually reactively
“Half my week is spent putting out fires.”
From the C1 lesson Sorting It Out (solving problems).
Quick check
What does “put out fires” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“put out fires” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 2 (Plans, Problems and Feelings).
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Related phrases
- get to grips with (something)to begin to understand and deal with something difficult
- a stumbling blockan obstacle that prevents progress on something
- thrash something outto discuss something thoroughly until a solution or agreement is reached
- nip something in the budto stop a problem early, before it has a chance to grow
- muddle throughto manage to complete something despite a lack of skill, information or organization
- a workarounda way of dealing with a problem without solving the underlying cause
- get to the bottom of (something)to discover the real cause or truth of a problem
- crack itto finally find the solution to a difficult problem
- sort itself out(of a problem) to resolve without anyone needing to take direct action