By or through
Hi,
We normally hear baptism by fire. Is it also ok to say baptism through fire? Do 'through' and 'by' mean the same thing here - that is, by means of?
Thank you.
Top answer
The expression is "baptism by fire". While it is OK to change it, if you say it or write it with your change, and a native speaker hears it or reads it, the native speaker will think, "Oh, well. A foreigner.
- The expression is "baptism by fire".
- While it is OK to change it, if you say it or write it with your change, and a native speaker hears it or reads it, the native speaker will think, "Oh, well.
- A foreigner.
- " And they are extremely unlikely to say anything about it.
- But yes, they both mean the same thing, and so does 'by means of'.
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The expression is "baptism by fire". While it is OK to change it, if you say it or write it with your change, and a native speaker hears it or reads it, the native speaker will think, "Oh, well. A foreigner. He/She doesn't know English very well yet." And they are extremely unlikely to say anything about it.
But yes, they both mean the same thing, and so does 'by means of'.
CJ
0anonymousWe normally hear baptism by fire.
Fixed expressions are just that. Don't monkey with them. The actual fixed expression is "baptism of fire", but people use "by", too.
0
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