Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

pour gasoline on the fire en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) Synonym of add fuel to the fire.
    • The Ayatollah Khomeini poured gasoline on the fire with his comments on the mosque seizure, which were broadcast by Iranian radio the day after the attack. 2003, Dennis Piszkiewicz, Terrorism's War with America: A History, Greenwood Press, published 2003, →ISBN, page 39:
    • As I waited, my silence seemed to pour gasoline on the fire of Jack Reagan's irritation. 2008, E. L. Merkel, Virgins and Martyrs, Five Star, published 2008, →ISBN, page 223:
    • Instead of using the opportunity to ease the tensions between Bonn and Washington, Acheson chose to pour gasoline on the fire. 1992, Douglas Brinkley, Dean Acheson: The Cold War Years, 1953-71, Yale University Press, published 1992, →ISBN, page 295:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
poured gasoline on the fire Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
poured gasoline on the fire Tense=Past lexicographic
pours gasoline on the fire Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
pouring gasoline on the fire Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Synonyms

make matters worse · add fuel to the fire · fan the flames