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Glite Dictionary
to can't stand the heat

to can't stand the heat

4 8.1
Unable to handle pressure or strong criticism
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : no soportar la presión
  • So, as the saying goes, can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
  • can't stand the heat, get
  • can't stand the heat, stay

Examples

  • If she can't stand the heat, Ms. Piven should get out of the kitchen, as they say.

    Blog text (24)

  • Incidentally, I can't stand the heat.

    Blog text (4)

  • If you can't stand the heat, get out of the damn kitchen.

    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

  • If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

    Blog text (16)

  • Can't stand the heat, huh?

    Leap of Faith (1992)

  • Is it possible those so-called good ones go because they can't stand the heat in the kitchen, and those so-called bad ones stay because we are committed regardless?

    Blog text (12)

  • IF YOU ALL CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, GET OUT THE KITCHEN!

    Uptown Saturday Night (1974)

  • If the people who signed those petitions can't stand the heat of President Obama's reelection, then I suggest they get out of this country's kitchen.

    Blog text (28)

  • If you can't stand the heat, get out of the damn kitchen.

Synonyms

to can’t bear
vsto can't stand the heat
59 3.7

Cannot stand something because it is too unpleasant or upsetting

refers specifically to pressure, criticism, or stressful situations rather than general unpleasantness

Antonyms

to come through under pressure
1 4.6

Do well when you feel pressure

How Tolerant

to can't stand the heat
  • Informal
4 8.1

Surface Forms

can't stand the heat infinitive

Morphology

can't + stand + the + heat

The verb 'stand' (to tolerate) provides a clear cue that something cannot be endured, so a learner who knows the constituents will likely infer a sense of intolerance. However, 'heat' is used metaphorically for pressure or stress rather than literal temperature, and that metaphorical mapping is not fully predictable for an average B1 learner without prior exposure, making the expression only partially transparent.

Etymology

Can't stand the heat comes from the picture of a person trying to stand in a very hot kitchen, where the heat makes them leave. So it now means 'unable to tolerate pressure or stress'.