Non scherzare col fuoco.

English Translation

Don’t play with fire.

I had only ever heard this translated as “joke” not “play around with” prior to now!

1 Like

“Don’t joke with the fire” is perfectly normal to warn someone. It has the same meaning as “Don’t play with the fire”.

2 Likes

@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?!”)

1 Like

“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.

1 Like

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.

1 Like