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trial by fire - 2 dictionary results
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tri·al   (trī'əl, trīl)   
n.  
  1. Law Examination of evidence and applicable law by a competent tribunal to determine the issue of specified charges or claims.
    1. The act or process of testing, trying, or putting to the proof: a trial of one's faith.
    2. An instance of such testing, especially as part of a series of tests or experiments: a clinical trial of a drug.
  3. An effort or attempt: succeeded on the third trial.
  4. A state of pain or anguish that tests patience, endurance, or belief: "the fiery trial through which we pass" (Abraham Lincoln).
  5. A trying, troublesome, or annoying person or thing: The child was a trial to his parents.
  6. A preliminary competition or test to determine qualifications, as in a sport.
adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or used in a trial.
  2. Attempted or advanced on a provisional or experimental basis: a trial separation.
  3. Made or done in the course of a trial or test.

[Middle English triall, a testing, from Anglo-Norman trial, from trier, to sort, try.]
Synonyms: These nouns denote distress or suffering that severely tests resiliency and character: no consolation in their hour of trial; the affliction of a bereaved family; the crucible of revolution; the ordeal of being an innocent murder suspect; a time of relentless tribulation. See Also Synonyms at burden1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Fire Demo
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trial by fire

A test of one's abilities to perform well under pressure, as in Finishing this buge list of chores in time for the wedding is really a trial by fire. This expression alludes to the medieval practice of determining a person's guilt by having them undergo an ordeal, such as walking barefoot through a fire.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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