the.com/scalding
the moment water decides it's done being polite and starts pressing charges
means So hot it burns on contact — usually said of liquids or steam, and by extension of harsh, stinging criticism.
from From Old French 'escalder,' to burn with hot liquid, which traces back to Late Latin 'excaldare' — from 'ex-' (thoroughly) plus 'calidus' (hot), the same 'calidus' that simmers behind words like 'cauldron' and 'calorie.' So at its root, scalding is being thoroughly heated, water doing exactly what fire taught it.
- threshold
- skin burns at 140°F in five seconds
- culprit
- hot tap water scalds more kids than stoves
- speed
- 150°F water injures in under two seconds
- steam trick
- steam burns worse than boiling water itself
for instance
steam boiler explosions — industrial accidents like the 2005 bp texas city refinery explosion where scalding steam caused severe injuries