English · Emotions & Feelings
add fuel to the fire
/æd ˈfjuː.əl tə ðə ˈfaɪ.ə/
[/æd ˈfjuː.əl tə ðə ˈfaɪ.ə/]
worsen a situation
Intermediatephrase
Definition
To do or say something that makes a bad situation or an argument even worse.
Example
Criticising her in front of everyone only added fuel to the fire and made her even angrier.
Criticising her in front of everyone only added fuel to the fire and made her even angrier.
Etymology
A classical idea found in Roman writers like Horace and Livy, comparing provocation to feeding flames.
How & Where It’s Used
Common for describing actions that intensify conflict or trouble.