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Region: General | Usage example: His accusation added fuel to the fire during the dispute.

Add fuel to the fire

Meaning

Make an already tense situation worse.

Usage

Used when someone inflames conflict or criticism.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Fire metaphor: fuel makes flames grow hotter.

Used in moral and political writing to describe escalations.

Related Idioms

Fight fire with fire

Respond to an attack with similar tactics.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire

Escape one bad situation only to enter a worse one.

Set the world on fire

Do something remarkable or highly successful.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.