What does "prueba de fuego" mean in relation to football?
Question relating to CF Real Madrid site on "Facebook"
9 Answers
It means the acid test, i.e. the test used to determine wether a metal really is gold or not, so in football Real Madrid have a really tough game against Sevilla which will show if tey're the real deal or not i hope this helps
Trial by fire. 
But la prueba is a test, and you know what fuego is...it's more fluid than you are thinking, my friend. You know how flexible and colorful english is...spanish is no different.
In relation to football it would mean that the pay-off does not come until after you put forth a lot of effort and pass the "trial of fire".
"trial by fire"
Does this expression exist in English, I mean "Trial by fire", or is it a literal translation? If yes, is it used as much as "prueba de fuego" in Spanish?
"prueba de fuego" is an important challenge.
My understanding is that this is an expression derived from the medieval practice of burning those suspected of being witches. The theory was that if one were innocent, God would protect one from the flames and that dying was a proof of guilt. A similar belief attached to "trial by water".. One was submerged for a period of time and if one survived, this was taken to be a sign of God's protection. Unsurprisingly, no one survived either test and this was taken to prove that the person was in "league with the Devil".
In modern times, the expression carries the sense of "a real test". After many exercises against "imagined" opponents (during training) one encounters actual combat. The purpose of the training was to insure that in such moments one would not stop to ask "should I kill this person?", one would simply "follow orders".
The concept of simply "following orders" came under considerable criticism during the Nuremberg Trials. The conclusion seems to have been that there are good/bad orders and the individual has some responsibility for distinguishing among them. Therefor, this too, becomes a "trial by fire". The Military Code of Justice (of the U.S.) requires obedience to any "lawful" order but, in the final analysis (when it comes to the "trial by fire"), the individual is held responsible for his actions.
"prueba de fuego" is an important challenge. If you say that the match is "una prueba de fuego" for the team, it means they have a challenge this weekend. If they pass this test they'll triumph, if not... they'll have to work harder.
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This match will be an acid test for them!!
"Trial by fire" suggests a "crucial"/"final"/"definitive" test.
""Baptism of fire" suggests the the first/initial exposure to such a test.
Not quite the same thing.
all these people are correct
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