ordeal by fire
Proving through burning
Ordeal by fire was a medieval method of determining guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused to burning—holding red-hot iron, walking on coals, or reaching into flames.
Survival or rapid healing supposedly indicated divine favor and innocence.
The phrase now describes any severe test or trial: Starting the company was an ordeal by fire, but we survived.
- crucibleVessel for extreme heat
- trial by combatLegal battle to death
- medieval justiceLaw before modern courts
- burning at the stakeExecution by public immolation
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
divine judgment · ancient law · sink or swim · test of faith · ritual sacrifice · rite of passage · phoenix · gauntlet · initiation rite · proving ground · spiritual cleansing · transformative experience · sacred ritual · hot iron · adversity · forge ahead · accused · personal growth
- feudal punishmenthanging, flogging, whipping, pillory, dungeon
- ordealstribulation, hardship, torment, crucible, agony
- historical justicetrial by combat, truth commissions, reparations, witch trials, redress
- Germanic lawAnglo-Saxon law, law codes, blood feud, trial by combat, outlawry
- medieval lawMagna Carta, medieval justice, assize, writ, law codes
- torturerack, the rack, thumbscrew, thumbscrews, iron maiden
ordeal by firefair trial
Impartial judicial proceeding
fair hearing · due process · trial by jury · rule of law · habeas corpus
ordeal by firecakewalk
Effortless task or promenade
walk in the park · easy ride · smooth sailing · breeze · picnic
ordeal, fire, ordeals, fires, fired, firing, fierier, fieriest