adding fuel to the fire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adding fuel to the fire" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a situation when a person does or says something that makes a situation even more intense, heated, or problematic. For example: "The student's disrespectful comments to the teacher only added fuel to the fire, and the tense situation quickly escalated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And the ATM's are adding fuel to the fire.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Leonardo seemed to delight in adding fuel to the fire.

The New Yorker

The beginning of wisdom is to admit mistakes and stop adding fuel to the fire.

The Guardian - Opinion

There have been a multitude of smaller incidents too, adding fuel to the fire.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's adding fuel to the fire in terms of mistrust," said a senior UN official.

The Guardian

Are you adding fuel to the fire of some of these predominantly angry white young men?

The Guardian

We need to to quit adding fuel to the fire immediately, you and I both know it.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He is the only one adding fuel to the fire of hatred and division among the religions".

The New Yorker

This week his friend, Nat Rothschild, has been in court, suing the Daily Mail and adding fuel to the fire.

The Guardian

His colleague cited breaking press reports of ICRC comments about Guantanamo as adding fuel to the fire.

The Guardian

We need to stand united … and stop those who are adding fuel to the fire," he added.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "adding fuel to the fire", ensure the context clearly establishes a pre-existing tense or problematic situation. This phrase is most effective when highlighting actions that worsen an already volatile scenario.

Common error

Avoid using "adding fuel to the fire" when initiating a conflict or problem. The phrase implies escalating an existing negative situation, not creating one from scratch. Make sure the 'fire' is already burning.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "adding fuel to the fire" is to act as a verb phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that something is worsening an existing situation. Ludwig provides examples showcasing this usage in various contexts, highlighting its role in emphasizing escalation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

8%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

6%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiom "adding fuel to the fire" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe actions that worsen an existing negative situation. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources, including news outlets and academic institutions, showcasing its wide applicability. While the phrase is suitable for various contexts, it's crucial to ensure the context clearly establishes a pre-existing problem to avoid misapplication. Related phrases, such as ""exacerbate the situation"" or ""fan the flames"", offer alternative ways to express a similar sentiment, each with slightly different nuances. Overall, understanding the context and intended emphasis is key to effectively using this vivid and impactful idiom.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stoke the fire

Similar to the QUERY, highlighting the act of intensifying an existing issue or conflict.

fan the flames

Shares the "flames" imagery; suggests actively promoting the spread of a problem.

pour oil on the flames

Uses a similar 'flames' metaphor, but with 'oil' it suggests intensifying the problem.

inflame the situation

Similar in meaning to the QUERY, but emphasizes the intensity of emotions or conflict.

exacerbate the situation

Focuses on making the situation worse, lacking the "fire" metaphor.

aggravate the problem

Focuses on worsening a specific problem, rather than escalating a broader situation.

stir the pot

Suggests intentionally causing trouble or conflict, without necessarily escalating an existing situation as in the QUERY.

compound the issue

Implies an addition of elements that worsen a problem. Different figurative language than the QUERY.

make matters worse

A more general phrase for worsening a problem, lacking the intensity of the QUERY.

add insult to injury

Highlights the combination of two negative actions, where the QUERY underlines escalation.

FAQs

How can I use "adding fuel to the fire" in a sentence?

You can use "adding fuel to the fire" to describe actions that worsen an already tense or problematic situation. For example, "His insensitive remarks only added fuel to the fire, escalating the argument further."

What does "adding fuel to the fire" mean?

It means to make a bad situation even worse by doing or saying something that intensifies negative feelings or actions.

What can I say instead of "adding fuel to the fire"?

You can use alternatives like "exacerbate the situation", "pour oil on the flames", or "fan the flames" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "adding fuel to the fire"?

It's appropriate when someone's actions or words intensify an already negative or problematic situation, making it worse than it was before.