play with fire

play with fire 

1. Lit. to use fire as a toy; to experiment with flames and fire. Jimmy! I've told you never to play with fire!

2. Fig. to do something dangerous or risky. (Usually playing with fire.) Be careful with that knife! You are playing with fire! If you mess with Max, you are playing with fire.

See also: fire, play

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play with fire

to be involved in an activity that could be dangerous (usually in continuous tenses) We're playing with fire if we continue with genetic modification of our food.

See play ace, keep cards close to chest, play both ends against the middle, act the fool, act the goat, bring into play, play out of your skin

See also: fire, play

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play with fire

to do something that could cause you great trouble later Don't you know you're playing with fire when you get involved with someone who's already married?

See also: fire, play