add fuel to the fire
To make an already difficult or angry situation worse.
add fuel to the fire
To make an already difficult or angry situation worse.
Learning Progress
Examples
"His sarcastic comment added fuel to the fire. Means: His sarcastic comment made the argument worse."
"Bringing up the old dispute only added fuel to the fire. Means: Mentioning the old dispute made the situation more tense."
Mnemonic Trick
Adding fuel makes a fire burn more fiercely, just as this phrase describes worsening a situation.
Cultural Context
A widely used metaphor based on feeding a fire; it applies to conflicts and other worsening situations.
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