French Phrase
Mets‑le à feu vif.
Meaning
Literally, “Put it on high heat.” In a kitchen context it tells someone to turn the stove or pan to the highest temperature setting so the food cooks quickly.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving a cooking instruction, especially in a professional kitchen or when following a recipe that calls for a rapid sear or boil.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mets-leàfeuvif
Imperative of mettre
The verb *mettre* in the second‑person singular imperative drops the final *-re* and becomes *mets*.
Enclitic object pronoun
When a direct object pronoun follows an imperative, it is attached with a hyphen: *mets‑le* (put it).
Preposition à + noun
*à* introduces the manner or setting of the action; here it links the verb to the heat level *feu vif*.
Feu vif
*Feu vif* is a fixed culinary expression meaning “high heat”. It behaves like a noun phrase.
🗨In Conversation
Mets‑le à feu vif.
Turn it to high heat.
D’accord, je le fais tout de suite.
Okay, I’ll do it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Mets le à feu vif.
The object pronoun must be attached with a hyphen in the imperative.
Met‑le à feu vif.
The verb is *mettre*; the correct imperative form is *mets* (with an s).
Mets‑le à feu vif‑.
Do not add an extra hyphen after *vif*; the phrase ends with the noun phrase.
↔Alternatives
Fais chauffer à feu vif.
Heat it on high.
Mets‑le sur le feu à pleine puissance.
Put it on the stove at full power.
Augmente le feu au maximum.
Increase the heat to the maximum.
Cultural Tip
In French cuisine, heat levels are often described as *feu doux* (low), *feu moyen* (medium) and *feu vif* (high). Professional chefs will also say *feu vif* when they need a quick sear or a rapid boil. Remember that the phrase is used for stovetop cooking; ovens are described with *température* (e.g., *préchauffez le four à 200 °C*).