"Lek inte med elden."

Translation: Do not play with fire.

[JANBOEVINK]

Perhaps: Do not play with the fire is also accepted. Could one say in Swedish: -lek inte med eld-?

[Lundgren8]

The idioms differ here. The Swedish expression has a definite article, while the English has not.

[JANBOEVINK]

Thanks Lundgren8 and Zmrzlina. I am thinking of a camping trip and children are fiddling with the campfire. If I say: -Lek inte med elden- this is general advice in Swedish. Or can it also signify this particular fire, viz our campfire, so: do not play with the fire.. Or would I have to say: -Lek inte med vår eld- or similar?

[Zmrzlina]

No, it sounds weird to have it in the indefinite in Swedish.

[Jeanbean425734]

Is this only referring to actual fire, or is it a metaphor as it is in English?

[Jeanbean425734]

I still would like to know this.

[Kerstin482199]

Yes, it is also a metaphor. Even more than the actual meaning of "playing with fire". E.g. "She goes out with that man, although she is married. She is playing with fire!" Hope that helps. :-)

[datzysve]

Does this sentence have ad idiomatic meaning or is it just a plain advice about the danger of playing with actual fire?

[Kerstin482199]

Yes, is it also a metaphor. (See answer to the question above)