WordValeadd fuel to the fire
to make a bad situation worse
In more detail
(idiom) to make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something that increases anger or conflict
Examples
- By blaming her friend publicly, she only added fuel to the fire.
How to use add fuel to the fire
This idiom is used to describe actions or words that worsen an already tense or hostile situation, typically by provoking stronger emotional reactions. It is commonly employed in discussions of conflicts, arguments, or controversies where someone's intervention makes things more volatile. The phrase carries a judgmental tone, implying the action was unwise or counterproductive.
Common phrases
- add fuel to the fire
- why would you add fuel to the fire
- add more fuel to the fire
- deliberately add fuel to the fire
- accusations add fuel to the fire
Synonyms
pour gasoline on the fire · fan the flames · exacerbate the situation · make matters worse · inflame tensions
Opposites
pour cold water on · calm things down · defuse the situation
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'add insult to injury' (making a bad situation worse in a different way), or use 'add fire to the fuel' as an incorrect variant.
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