Dictionary

add fuel to the fire en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To worsen a conflict between people; to inflame an already tense situation.
   • […] and to admit women into active participation in politics will certainly be to increase disorder and add fuel to the fire of strife. 1891, The Eclectic Magazine of Foreign Literature, Science, and Art, volume 54:
   • Instead of apologizing to his girlfriend, he decided to add fuel to the fire.
   • But this had no effect, only to add fuel to the fire; so that, at last, both parties were so exasperated, that, had not the magistrates of Frankfort (who were now head of the English reformed church) interposed, they were on the point of coming to blows. 1839, Charles Dodd, edited by Mark Aloysius Tierney, Dodd's Church History of England, volume 2:
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see add, fuel, fire.

Forms

Antonyms

pour oil on troubled waters · clear the air

Relateds

stir shit

Synonyms

punch down · rub salt in the wound · throw gasoline on the fire · make matters worse · fan the flames · cap it all off · put the boot in · rub it in · kick a dog when it's down · add fuel to the flame · add fuel to the fire · fan the flames · kick someone when they are down · twist the knife · With malice · strike someone when they are down · pour gasoline on the fire · add insult to injury · throw gasoline on the fire · hit someone when they are down · add insult to injury · throw gas on the fire

Translations (52)

no helle bensin på bålet (worsen a conflict) · el όλα του γάμου δύσκολα κι η νύφη γκαστρωμένη (worsen a conflict) · hu olajat önt a tűzre (worsen a conflict) · ja 鬼に金棒 (worsen a conflict) · tr ateşe körükle gitmek (worsen a conflict) · ro pune paie pe foc (worsen a conflict) · no puste til ilden (worsen a conflict) · pl dolewać oliwy do ognia (worsen a conflict) · it aggiungere esca al fuoco (worsen a conflict) · es dar pábulo (worsen a conflict) · et õli tulle valama (worsen a conflict) · nl olie op het vuur gooien (worsen a conflict) · sv hälla bensin på elden (worsen a conflict) · da hælde benzin på bålet (worsen a conflict) · sh dolivati ulje na vatru (worsen a conflict) · ca afegir llenya al foc (worsen a conflict) · pt pôr lenha na fogueira (worsen a conflict) · pt deitar lenha na fogueira (worsen a conflict) · ro turna ulei pe foc (worsen a conflict) · fr mettre de l'huile sur le feu (worsen a conflict) · ro pune gaz pe foc (worsen a conflict) · vi đổ dầu vào lửa (worsen a conflict) · vi thêm dầu vào lửa (worsen a conflict) · ru подлива́ть ма́сло в ого́нь (worsen a conflict) · sh доливати уље на ватру (worsen a conflict) · da puste til ilden (worsen a conflict) · fi kaataa bensaa liekkeihin (worsen a conflict) · es añadir lumbre al fuego (worsen a conflict) · ar زَادَ اَلنَّار حَطَباً (worsen a conflict) · es echar leña al fuego (worsen a conflict) · hi जलती आग में घी डालना (worsen a conflict) · vi đổ thêm dầu vào lửa (worsen a conflict) · nl opstoken (worsen a conflict) · cmn 火上澆油 /火上浇油 (worsen a conflict) · ms mencurah minyak ke api (worsen a conflict) · fr jeter de l'huile sur le feu (worsen a conflict) · he הוֹסִיף שֶׁמֶן לַמְּדוּרָה (worsen a conflict) · ar صَبَّ اَلزَّيْت عَلَى اَلنَّار (worsen a conflict) · de Öl ins Feuer gießen (worsen a conflict) · is hella olíu á eldinn (worsen a conflict) · cmn 火上加油 (worsen a conflict) · el ρίχνω λάδι στη φωτιά (worsen a conflict) · it mettere benzina sul fuoco (worsen a conflict) · pl dolać oliwy do ognia (worsen a conflict) · cs přilít olej do ohně (worsen a conflict) · fi heittää löylyä kiukaalle (worsen a conflict) · es ya escampa y llovían guijarros (worsen a conflict) · yue 火上加油 (worsen a conflict) · ka ცეცხლზე ნავთის დასხმა (worsen a conflict) · pt colocar lenha na fogueira (worsen a conflict) · te అగ్గి మీద గుగ్గిలము (worsen a conflict) · es echar gasolina al fuego (worsen a conflict)