Out of the frying pan and into the fire
/aʊt əv ðə ˈfraɪɪŋ pæn ən ˈɪntə ðə ˈfaɪə/informalUK · US
What does “Out of the frying pan and into the fire” mean?
Out of the frying pan and into the fire means from a bad situation into an even worse one
The change is meant to help, but it makes things worse. A new job with longer hours or a replacement car that keeps breaking down could fit.
You can use the whole phrase as a comment, or say someone has “jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.”
When do people say it?
Use it when an attempt to escape one problem leads to a bigger problem.
“I left a noisy flat for one next to a nightclub—out of the frying pan and into the fire.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal. It is most at home in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
The image is of escaping a hot pan only to land directly in the flames below.
Origin confidence: Disputed; treat with caution
How do you say “Out of the frying pan and into the fire” in other languages?
Last updated 2026-09-19