“Out of the frying pan into the fire” is the proverb for escaping one trouble only to find a worse one. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its rueful wisdom.
What Does “Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire” Mean?
The proverb means to go from a bad situation to an even worse one — to escape one danger or difficulty only to land straight in a greater one. The image is vivid: a piece of food leaping out of the hot frying pan only to fall into the open flames below. It is often said with a wry shake of the head about someone who, trying to make things better, has actually made them worse.
Origin of the Proverb
The idea is ancient — the Greeks spoke of jumping “out of the smoke into the flame,” and similar versions exist across Europe. The English form was recorded by Sir Thomas More in 1532, during his famous war of words with the reformer William Tyndale, where each accused the other of leaping out of the frying pan into the fire. The picture was so apt that it has stayed in everyday use ever since.
Examples in a Sentence
- “She quit a stressful job for one that was even worse — out of the frying pan into the fire.”
- “Fleeing the storm, they drove straight into a flood: out of the frying pan into the fire.”
- “Borrowing from a loan shark to pay off a debt is jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.”
Similar Proverbs
- I ran from the wolf but ran into a bear — escaping one danger by meeting a greater one.
- He fled from the rain and sat down under the waterspout — the Arabian version of the same idea.
- The remedy is worse than the disease — the cure causes more harm than the problem.
- Between the devil and the deep blue sea — caught between two equally bad options.
For more sayings about trouble and bad luck, see our smart thoughts and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “out of the frying pan into the fire” mean?
It means to escape one bad situation only to find yourself in an even worse one.
Where does the proverb come from?
The idea is ancient, with a Greek version about leaping from the smoke into the flame; the English form was recorded by Sir Thomas More in 1532.
What is a similar proverb?
“I ran from the wolf but ran into a bear” and “the remedy is worse than the disease” share the same idea of escaping into greater trouble.