have a lot of irons in the fire
have a lot of irons in the fire
To have several simultaneous activities or potential undertakings or opportunities. I have a lot of irons in the fire at work right now and it's going to be tricky to balance all of them over the next few weeks. A: "How's the job search going?" B: "No interviews yet, but I have a lot of irons in the fire."
See also: fire, have, iron, lot, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
have a lot of irons in the fire
If you have a lot of irons in the fire, you have several different plans or opportunities, so that there is likely to be something which succeeds even if others fail. I've got a lot of irons in the fire now and there's no reason to think that something isn't going to work out. Note: This expression is very variable. For instance, words such as a few, other, or several can be used instead of a lot of. We have a few irons in the fire and I'm optimistic two or three new faces will be here for pre-season training. Note: This expression may refer to flat irons, which were used in the past to iron clothes and had to be heated over a fire. Alternatively, it may refer to a blacksmith heating several pieces of iron in the fire at once.
See also: fire, have, iron, lot, of
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- have many irons in the fire
- have many, etc. irons in the fire
- have several irons in the fire
- several irons in the fire
- too many irons in the fire
- irons in the fire, lots of/too many
- irons in the fire, too many
- have too many irons in the fire
- iron in the fire
- clap (one) in irons