Embers are incandescent solids.
Ember is the name given to a piece of solid material that, when it comes into contact with fire, becomes incandescent , although without flame. That is why the remains of embers are known as embers.
The etymology of this word does not seem to lead us along a well-defined path: while some language scholars point out that its origin is found in the word asca , which in Gothic means " ash ", and which came to German as asche , others claim which arose in the Arabic language.
In Prehistory , embers were used to light a campfire . With the development of lighters, matches and lighters, the use of embers was significantly reduced.
Symbolic uses of the concept
Beyond this literal meaning, the idea of ember or embers appears in various expressions of colloquial language. Classical literature and some dictionaries show the use of this term as an exclamation to reflect a surprise or pain that arises suddenly. This meaning derives from how unfortunate it is to take a hot ember without knowing it.
While this use has already been forgotten, there are many other expressions that have taken its place, and that will also one day rest on the pages of today's books. This language phenomenon allows us to learn many things about different eras, since it leads us to think about the characteristics of daily life; For example, since heating and cooking are electric in most developed cities today, many people would not even know how to define the term ember .
A person on tenterhooks is restless or nervous.
be on tenterhooks
The phrase being “on tenterhooks” or “on tenterhooks” , on the other hand, refers to remaining expectant, intrigued or restless about something: “Ramiro has not called me yet and I am on tenterhooks to find out how it went” , “This topic is “She has my father on tenterhooks,” “Marta is on tenterhooks about the restructuring of the company.”
This phrase is used in everyday speech in certain countries, and it is easy to understand its meaning if we focus on the literal definition of embers : if a person is standing on a large number of pieces of incandescent material, it is logical that they feel restless and unable to relax, since you will feel excessive heat and fear serious burns if you do not manage to get out of there in time.
A prudent action
When a person performs an action prudently and without haste , it is said that he or she “steps on hot coals” : “I suggest you step on hot coals before making a decision about it,” “I am going to tread on hot coals to avoid making a mistake: I cannot fail" .
With respect to the phrase stepped on embers , something similar to what was expressed above occurs to explain being on or on embers . To advance on a floor that is too hot, full of incandescent material, one of the best options is to do so with caution and trying at every step the best path to minimize the damage.
Of embers and sardines
“Arrimar ” or “ bring the ember to his sardine” , finally, is a phrase that is used symbolically when an individual intends to take advantage of another or a situation to obtain a benefit : “Juan brought the ember to his sardine” when Mercedes stated that it would take a leave of absence."
To understand the meaning of this phrase we must imagine a group of people roasting sardines, and one of them bringing the embers to his portion so that it is cooked without the attention of the other diners. It is an action that seeks to take advantage of an opportunity in a selfish and inconsiderate way.