aggravating the matter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aggravating the matter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation that is being made worse or more complicated by someone's actions or decisions. Example: "His refusal to apologize is only aggravating the matter and making it harder to resolve the conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr Surowiecki goes on to note that notions of fairness are often self-serving, as appears to be the case in the Greek-German fiscal fuss, further aggravating the matter.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But Google aggravates the matter with its own pretensions.

Forbes

She played anyway, aggravating the injury.

Los Angeles Times

The Euro crisis has only contributed to aggravating the evils.

Huffington Post

In general, the present results suggest that the presence of Mg2+ during the ischemic-like protocol aggravated the damage to the white matter cells by promoting the activation of at least one major cell death pathway, namely, parthanatos.

Cell Death and Disease

She said the withdrawal of American and South Korean food shipments had aggravated the already-dire situation, which had become, she said, "a matter of life-and-death urgency".

The New York Times

Now, with a mediocre poll lead and an increasingly ugly spat about union involvement in the Falkirk selection aggravating matters, it appears the battle was merely deferred.

The Economist

Aggravating matters further is the inescapable fact that the more complex the network, the less control grid operators have over it.

Huffington Post

This aggravated the problem.

The New York Times - Magazine

Yet that aggravates the problem.

The Economist

He later aggravated the injury.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "aggravating the matter" when you want to emphasize that a specific action or decision is making a bad situation even worse. Consider the tone and choose a more or less formal alternative depending on your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "aggravating the matter" in casual conversation or very informal writing. Opt for simpler phrases like "making things worse" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aggravating the matter" functions as a verb phrase, where "aggravating" acts as a present participle modifying the noun "matter". According to Ludwig AI, it describes an action that worsens an existing situation. Examples show it used to indicate how something makes a problem more complicated or difficult.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "aggravating the matter" is a phrase used to describe actions or events that worsen an existing situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While not exceedingly common, it appears in news and scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to slightly formal register. When using this phrase, consider whether a simpler or more direct alternative like "making things worse" would be more suitable, especially in informal settings. Be mindful of the context and intended audience to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exacerbating the issue

Replaces "aggravating" with "exacerbating", implying a more intense worsening of the situation.

compounding the problem

Substitutes "aggravating" with "compounding", highlighting the addition of further issues.

worsening the situation

A more general and less formal way of saying "aggravating the matter".

making things worse

An informal alternative that conveys the same negative impact.

inflaming the problem

Suggests a more heated and emotional worsening of the situation.

intensifying the difficulty

Emphasizes the increased intensity of the existing difficulty.

deepening the crisis

Implies that the matter is a crisis that is becoming more severe.

fuelling the fire

An idiomatic expression suggesting that actions are adding to an already volatile situation.

pouring oil on the flames

Similar to "fuelling the fire", this idiom emphasizes the negative impact of actions.

complicating the scenario

Focuses on the increasing complexity of the situation due to certain actions.

FAQs

What does "aggravating the matter" mean?

It means to make a situation or problem worse or more serious. It implies that something is being added to an already negative situation, making it even more difficult to resolve.

How can I use "aggravating the matter" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe actions or events that worsen a situation. For example: "His constant complaining is only "aggravating the matter" and making it harder to find a solution."

What are some alternatives to "aggravating the matter"?

Some alternatives include "exacerbating the issue", "compounding the problem", or simply "making things worse". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is "aggravating the matter" formal or informal?

"Aggravating the matter" is considered relatively neutral to slightly formal. While understandable in most contexts, simpler alternatives like "making it worse" may be more appropriate for very informal settings.