- English translation
Stay close to a risky matter and its sparks may land on you.
- Literal wording
Whoever lives beside the blacksmith is burned by his fire.
- Meaning and lesson
The proverb warns that staying near a source of harm that cannot be fully controlled can leave a person affected. A blacksmith's forge throws off sparks, so anyone standing beside it may be scorched even without approaching the flames.
The figure is figurative, not a literal rule about metalworkers or fire safety. It is applied to the exposure that comes with closeness to a demanding or hazardous undertaking, where a person should expect to absorb some consequences through unexpected spill-over or pressures.
- When it is used
Use it when someone stays close to a risky situation, workplace, or relationship and may suffer side effects, or to warn that company could drag them into trouble. It does not suit praise of helpful company or literal burns.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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