für jemanden die Hand ins Feuer legen
to vouch for someone; to stake one's reputation on someone
Origin
From the medieval ordeal by fire, in which one placed a hand in the fire to prove innocence. Linked too to the ancient hero Mucius Scaevola, who held his hand in the fire to prove his courage.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- beziehungsweise / bzw. (respectively, or)beziehungsweise (bzw.)
- Counterfactual result clauses („zu … als dass“)Irreale Konsekutivsätze („zu … als dass“)
- Definite article 'die' (the, feminine, nominative)Bestimmter Artikel 'die' (feminin, Nominativ)
- Possessive articles in the dativePossessivartikel im Dativ
- Genitive (introduction: des/der + -s)Genitiv (Einführung: des/der + -s)
- Passive in the present (werden + past participle)Passiv Präsens (werden + Partizip II)
Examples
Für seine lege ich die .
I'd vouch for his honesty with my life.