Bedeutung
To make extreme efforts or take great risks to achieve something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The idiom is often used in 'Ta'arof' (Persian etiquette). A host might say they 'threw themselves into water and fire' to prepare a meal, as a way of showing honor to the guest. The phrase is also used in Dari Persian with the same meaning, reflecting the shared literary heritage of the region. In Tajik Persian, while the Cyrillic script is used, the idiom 'худро ба обу оташ задан' remains a staple of formal and poetic language. Reflects the Zoroastrian reverence for fire and water as sacred elements that test the human spirit.
Use it in Interviews
Using this idiom when describing a past challenge shows you have a high level of Persian and understand cultural nuances of hard work.
Don't forget 'Ra'
The word 'ra' (را) is crucial. Without it, the sentence sounds like you are setting water and fire on fire, which makes no sense!
Bedeutung
To make extreme efforts or take great risks to achieve something.
Use it in Interviews
Using this idiom when describing a past challenge shows you have a high level of Persian and understand cultural nuances of hard work.
Don't forget 'Ra'
The word 'ra' (را) is crucial. Without it, the sentence sounds like you are setting water and fire on fire, which makes no sense!
Ta'arof usage
If someone uses this to describe what they did for you, they are being very polite. Respond with 'Shoma lotf darid' (You are kind).
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
او برای پیدا کردن کار، خودش را به ___ و ___ زد.
The idiom is specifically 'Water and Fire'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose the correct grammar:
You need the reflexive pronoun 'khodam' and the verb 'zadan'.
In which situation is this idiom MOST appropriate?
Situation:
The idiom is for extreme efforts, not daily tasks.
Complete the dialogue.
سارا: چطور توانستی این همه پول جمع کنی؟ علی: _________ تا توانستم این مبلغ را جور کنم.
This expresses the great effort Ali made to collect the money.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenاو برای پیدا کردن کار، خودش را به ___ و ___ زد.
The idiom is specifically 'Water and Fire'.
Choose the correct grammar:
You need the reflexive pronoun 'khodam' and the verb 'zadan'.
Situation:
The idiom is for extreme efforts, not daily tasks.
سارا: چطور توانستی این همه پول جمع کنی؟ علی: _________ تا توانستم این مبلغ را جور کنم.
This expresses the great effort Ali made to collect the money.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it is mostly used for metaphorical danger or just extreme effort (like working long hours).
Yes, 'khodam ra be ab o atash zadam' is very common to describe your own hard work.
Yes, if you are describing the effort your team put into a project, it sounds very dedicated.
'Talash kardan' is just 'to try'. This idiom is 'to try with everything you have, including risks'.
Usually no. It is seen as a positive, heroic trait. However, if someone does it for a bad goal, it can be negative.
او خودش را به آب و آتش زد. (Oo khodash ra be ab o atash zad).
It's technically understandable, but 'Ab o Atash' is the fixed order. Stick to that.
No, it's a standard idiom used in all levels of society.
Better not. It will sound like you are being overly dramatic or sarcastic.
Forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'khod' or using the wrong verb like 'kardan'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
از جان مایه گذاشتن
synonymTo put one's life/soul into something.
کوه کندن
similarTo dig a mountain (like Farhad the Great).
پاشنه در را از جا درآوردن
similarTo pull the door off its hinges.
دست و پا زدن
contrastTo struggle/flail.
