add fuel to the fire

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

To make a bad situation or an argument worse.

Why this phrase?

Pouring fuel onto flames makes them burn more fiercely.

Example

“Shouting back only added fuel to the fire.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

drive someone up the wall Informal · CEFR B1

to make someone feel extremely annoyed or frustrated

sick and tired Neutral · CEFR B1

extremely annoyed with someone or something and unwilling to tolerate it any longer

bite someone's head off Informal · CEFR B2

to answer someone with sudden and often unjustified anger

hate someone's guts Informal · CEFR B2

to feel an extremely strong hatred for someone

hot under the collar Neutral · CEFR B2

noticeably irritated or angry

pissed off Informal · CEFR B2

very angry or irritated about something

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

markdown