Idiom
several irons in the fire
a number of jobs or possibilities available at the same time.Job counselors recommend keeping several irons in the fire when you’re looking for work.
Usage notes: also used in the forms a lot of or many irons in the fire
Etymology: possibly from the fact that people who take care of cattle keep several branding irons (= devices used to burn a mark on the skin of a cow) in a fire and ready for use when they are marking cows