Dictionary

baptism of fire en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Derived from English translations of the New Testament, namely the Gospels of Matthew (3:11) and of Luke (3:16); from Ancient Greek through Latin; presumably from Aramaic.

Meanings

1. The gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. Tribulation endured as spiritual discipline.
   • And the Father's counselor suggested that he invite you along to help: sort of a re–baptism of fire, so to speak. 2013, “Mammy?”, in Mrs. Brown's Boys, season 3, episode 5, spoken by Father Damien (Conor Moloney):
3. Martyrdom by immolation.
4. (figuratively) The first experience of a severe ordeal, especially a first experience of military combat
   • She sat down for four exclusive interviews over the course of several weeks to reflect on her first 100 days in the job. It has been a baptism of fire by many accounts, including hers. 2023 September 30, Hannah Murphy, “The wildest job in Silicon Valley”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 17:
   • Having to deal with a bomb scare on his first day was a real baptism of fire for John.

Forms

Relateds

acid test · throw in at the deep end

Translations (26)

es bautismo de fuego (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · de Feuertaufe (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · ro botez cu foc (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · pt batismo de fogo (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · it battesimo del fuoco (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · hi अग्नि से बपतिस्मा (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · mk огнено крштевање (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · ja 火の洗礼 (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · fr baptême du feu (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · es bautismo vulcanio (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · be баяво́е хрышчэ́нне (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · da ilddåb (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · cs křest ohněm (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · ko 포화의 세례 (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · cmn 炮火的洗禮 /炮火的洗礼 (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · yue 炮火嘅洗禮 /炮火嘅洗礼 (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · no ilddåp (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · hu tűzkeresztség (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · el βάπτισμα του πυρός (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · ca baptisme de foc (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · uk бойове́ хре́щення (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · es bautismo ígneo (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · fi tulikaste (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · ru боево́е креще́ние (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · sv elddop (the first experience of a severe ordeal) · es bautismo pírico (the first experience of a severe ordeal)