Home › Idioms

pousser les feux

Meaning: To intensify effort or energy; to redouble one's exertions to achieve a goal.

Language: French

Literally: to push the fires

Category: Food & Drink

Origin: The image is of stoking a fire hotter to increase heat and cooking intensity, metaphorically applied to any intensification of effort.

More idioms — Food & Drink

  • curva de la felicidad — excess abdominal fat; a protruding belly caused by overeating or drinking.
  • cuentas de la lechera — plans or hopes based on fantasy rather than reality; wishful thinking that ignores practi…
  • arroz con mango — a chaotic, confused mess or pandemonium.
  • sacar las castañas del fuego — to rescue someone from a difficult situation or to solve a problem at one's own risk or e…
  • tener su miga — To have hidden depth or complexity; to be more complicated than it appears.
  • dorar la píldora — to make something unpleasant more palatable by presenting it attractively.

More French idioms

  • courir après les cotillons — To pursue amorous or romantic adventures.
  • tirer les oreilles — To scold someone harshly or punish them.
  • avoir de la tchatche — To be talkative and persuasive, to have the gift of gab.
  • tomber à l’eau — To be canceled or abandoned.
  • ne plus savoir où donner de la tête — To be overwhelmed with work or demands.
  • avoir les yeux qui sortent de la tête — To stare with eyes wide open in anger or astonishment.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…