English · Proverb Attested

you don't look at the mantelpiece when you poke the fire

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Alternative form of you don't look at the mantelpiece when you're poking the fire.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

dạng thay thế của không nhìn vào tủ khi bạn đang đốt lửa

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Topics: Fire

Common questions

What does “you don't look at the mantelpiece when you poke the fire” mean?

Alternative form of you don't look at the mantelpiece when you're poking the fire.

Is “you don't look at the mantelpiece when you poke the fire” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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