Out of the frying-pan into the fire.

The saying describes escaping one unpleasant or risky situation only to enter another that is worse. It emphasizes that a change meant as relief can intensify the very hardship, danger, or pressure one hoped to avoid.

It may also caution against hasty solutions chosen without considering their consequences. The image contrasts manageable heat with direct flames, presenting a move from one problem into a more severe and damaging predicament.

Use it when a person, group, or decision leaves a troubling condition and immediately encounters a graver one. It can comment on unintended consequences after a failed remedy, change of plan, or attempt to escape difficulty.