fire-fighting

[Romel Panzer]

"There were other problems. The administration was short of personnel. Obama had his hands full fire-fighting on the economic front and tackling Afghanistan and North Korea". What does the word "fire-fighting" in the above mean. Is it related to extinguishing the flames or firing with fire-arms.

[BobK]

"There were other problems. The administration was short of personnel. Obama had his hands full fire-fighting on the economic front and tackling Afghanistan and North Korea". What does the word "fire-fighting" in the above mean. Is it related to extinguishing the flames or firing with fire-arms.

The former, but figuratively. He's not actually putting fires out, he's dealing with problems as they arise.

b

[bhaisahab]

"There were other problems. The administration was short of personnel. Obama had his hands full fire-fighting on the economic front and tackling Afghanistan and North Korea". What does the word "fire-fighting" in the above mean. Is it related to extinguishing the flames or firing with fire-arms.

It's related to extinguishing the flames. Obama was 'fighting the fire' of the economic downturn, trying to limit the damage.