baptism of fire

English[edit]

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.

baptism of fire (plural baptisms of fire)

(Christianity) The gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Christianity) Tribulation endured as spiritual discipline.
- 2013, “Mammy?”, in Mrs. Brown's Boys, season 3, episode 5, spoken by Father Damien (Conor Moloney):
  And the Father's counselor suggested that he invite you along to help: sort of a re–baptism of fire, so to speak.
(Christianity) Martyrdom by immolation.
(figuratively, military) The first experience of a severe ordeal, especially a first experience of military combat
Having to deal with a bomb scare on his first day was a real baptism of fire for John.
- 2023 September 30, Hannah Murphy, “The wildest job in Silicon Valley”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 17:
  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.

the first experience of a severe ordeal

Belarusian: баяво́е хрышчэ́нне n (bajavóje xryščénnje)
Catalan: baptisme de foc (ca) m
Chinese:
Cantonese: 炮火嘅洗禮／炮火嘅洗礼 (paau³ fo² ge³ sai² lai⁵)

Mandarin: 炮火的洗禮／炮火的洗礼 (zh) (pàohuǒ de xǐlǐ)
Czech: křest ohněm
Danish: ilddåb c
Finnish: tulikaste (fi)
French: baptême du feu (fr) m
German: Feuertaufe f
Greek: βάπτισμα του πυρός n (váptisma tou pyrós)
Hungarian: tűzkeresztség (hu)
Italian: battesimo del fuoco m
Japanese: 火の洗礼 (ひのせんれい, hi no senrei)
Korean: 포화의 세례 (pohwaui serye)
Macedonian: огнено крштевање n (ogneno krštevanje)
Norwegian: ilddåp (no) m
Portuguese: batismo de fogo m
Romanian: botez cu foc
Russian: боево́е креще́ние (ru) n (bojevóje kreščénije) (battle baptism)
Spanish: bautismo de fuego (es) m
Swedish: elddop (sv) n
Ukrainian: бойове́ хре́щення (uk) n (bojové xréščennja)