baptism of fire

NOUN

trying experience

Synonyms

WEAK

hazing initiation martyrdom ordeal rite of passage rude introduction test of courage trial by fire

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Balfe: It was a bit of a baptism of fire.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

French ice dancers Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry are poised to win Olympic gold in Milan despite a baptism of fire in their debut season with accusations of control and manipulation flying.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

For any new manager coming in, it's a colossal baptism of fire to try and navigate your way through.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2025

He was still relatively raw when he travelled to Russia to face Kovalev, a baptism of fire that became the defining early chapter of his career.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025

On the other hand, if the nature on which it operates has received the baptism of fire, its effect is that of a tonic.

From The Truth About Tristrem Varick A Novel by Saltus, Edgar