add fuel to the fire
The phrase "add fuel to the fire" is a widely recognized idiom used in both American and British English to describe actions that worsen an already problematic situation.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2General
(informal)To worsen a bad situation by doing or saying something that increases its intensity.
Example
- His comments only added fuel to the fire, making the argument even more heated.
C1Conflict Resolution
(informal)To provoke or intensify a conflict by introducing additional provocative elements.
Example
- Bringing up past grievances during a dispute can add fuel to the fire.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "add fuel to the fire":
fire upflame upcatch fireturn up the heatup the antekeep the pot boilingspark upspice upblaze uphot refueltake fireon fireback firedraw fireflare upopen fire