English Translation
Don’t play with fire.
I had only ever heard this translated as “joke” not “play around with” prior to now!
Don’t play with fire.
I had only ever heard this translated as “joke” not “play around with” prior to now!
“Don’t joke with the fire” is perfectly normal to warn someone. It has the same meaning as “Don’t play with the fire”.
@barcarolle Was about to say the same, “Hey, don’t joke around with those fireworks” etc. (In UK you often hear “Are you joking me?!”)
“Joking with fire” is used primarily figuratively , like warning of a dire situation or of something that can cause many problems. The use I know, is 99 percent figurative.
Sure we have the same thing in English. It was the use if “playing around with” for scherzare that seemed a bit new, but if course it does make sense.