- Meaning
- This idiom describes an action that worsens an already tense, problematic, or volatile situation, as if pouring fuel onto an existing fire to make it burn hotter. It conveys escalation or aggravation, often used in personal, social, or conflict-related contexts to critique or highlight behavior that intensifies disputes or emotions. The phrase carries a tone of warning, disapproval, or vivid description, reflecting cultural awareness of conflict dynamics and the human tendency to exacerbate issues through careless or provocative actions. It resonates in heated arguments or crises, capturing the danger of making things worse, and its fiery imagery adds a layer of intense urgency, evoking a blaze out of control. The idiom often urges restraint, making it a powerful metaphor for the consequences of inflammatory behavior.
- Origin
- The phrase has roots in ancient rhetoric, with a Latin precursor in Livy’s *History of Rome* (1st century BCE): ‘Adding fuel to the flame.’ Its English form emerged in the 16th century, reflecting a culture familiar with fire’s destructive power, with an early appearance in Thomas More’s 1532 *Confutation of Tyndale’s Answer*: ‘Add fuel to the fire.’ The idiom gained traction in the 17th century, as seen in John Milton’s *Paradise Lost* (1667), which uses fire metaphors for conflict. Its use grew in 19th-century British and American literature, particularly in political and social narratives, with Charles Dickens’ *Bleak House* (1853) employing it for escalating disputes. The phrase’s adoption was amplified in the 20th century through media, notably in *The New York Times* coverage of conflicts. Its spread to Commonwealth English came through British influence, and its vivid imagery, evoking a raging fire, and its applicability to escalation ensured its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from arguments to diplomatic tensions.
- Variants
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- Add fuel to the fire
- Pour fuel on the fire
- Throw fuel on the fire
- Fuel to the flames
- Examples
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- Don’t add fuel to the fire by bringing up her past mistakes now.
- Pour fuel on the fire, he did, criticizing her in front of everyone.
- Throw fuel on the fire, and you’ll make this argument even worse.
- Fuel to the flames, his comments escalated the team’s frustration.
- Adding fuel to the fire, she posted the rumor online.
- Pour fuel on the fire, they did, ignoring the client’s complaints.
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