fuel the fire

USAGE SUMMARY

"fuel the fire" is a correct phrase and is commonly used in written English.
It means to add more energy or intensity to a situation, often with negative connotations. You can use "fuel the fire" in situations where there is already a contentious or heated atmosphere, and someone is adding to it to make it worse. For example: - The politician's remarks only served to fuel the fire of division among the crowd. - The media's coverage of the scandal only fueled the fire of public outrage. - Please don't fuel the fire between your siblings by taking sides, let's try to find a peaceful resolution.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Besides, you want to end the relationship, whatever it may be, not fuel the fire and lead the person to keep bothering you for even longer.

WikiHow

And then there are those who fuel the fire.

The New York Times

"He's just going to fuel the fire," Patel said.

The Guardian

The only item in the tail section with enough power to fuel the fire was the emergency transmitter, investigators found.

Independent

The problem is that merely arming the rebels is unlikely to end the conflict, and could well fuel the fire.

The New York Times

Close doors and windows as you escape to minimize the amount of oxygen that can fuel the fire.

The Washington Post

As protesters brought pieces of broken plywood to fuel the fire, he urged everyone to chant the common Gayatri Mantra and join in.

The New York Times

Scott has been reluctant to fuel the fire of the Woods-Williams feud, not that his caddie seems to need any help.

The New York Times - Sports

It's a feud of sorts that comedian Brand is either hoping to secure the last word on or fuel the fire of debate even further.

Independent

Oh and air, to fuel the fire.

TechCrunch

And giants Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba fuel the fire.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider if a more direct and less metaphorical alternative such as "exacerbate" or "intensify" would be more appropriate for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "fuel the fire" in contexts where you mean to encourage positive growth or motivation. The phrase carries a negative connotation of worsening a bad situation, so using it positively would be contradictory and confusing. Choose alternative phrases such as "boost the momentum" or "ignite the passion" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fuel the fire" functions as an idiomatic expression. Ludwig AI confirms its usage to describe the act of intensifying a situation, often with negative implications. It typically serves as a verb phrase within a sentence, indicating the action of making something worse.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fuel the fire" is a commonly used idiomatic expression that describes the act of worsening a situation, particularly a conflict or problem. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While its usage is prevalent across various contexts, it is most frequently found in news and media, carrying a neutral to informal tone. When writing, it's important to consider the potential negative connotations and ensure it aligns with the intended message, especially in formal settings, or to not use it in positive connotations since it would be contradictory and confusing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

add fuel to the flames

A more literal variation, maintaining the fiery metaphor but altering the wording slightly.

stoke the flames

Similar to 'add fuel', this phrase emphasizes actively encouraging the escalation of a conflict.

fan the flames

Emphasizes increasing the intensity of something, like a conflict or emotion, through action or words.

aggravate the situation

This alternative focuses on making a situation worse, highlighting the negative impact.

exacerbate the problem

This phrase emphasizes making an existing problem more severe or intense.

pour oil on the fire

This alternative continues the fire metaphor, suggesting something that intensifies the issue.

inflame the situation

This alternative highlights the act of making a situation more heated or passionate, typically in a negative way.

intensify the conflict

Directly addresses the escalation of a disagreement or struggle.

stir up trouble

This suggests actively provoking or instigating conflict or disruption.

heighten the tension

Focuses specifically on increasing the level of stress or strain in a situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "fuel the fire" to describe actions or words that worsen an already tense situation. For instance, "His comments only served to fuel the fire of the argument".

What does "fuel the fire" mean?

It means to make a situation more intense or problematic, often by adding something that worsens the existing conflict or negativity.

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

You can use alternatives like "aggravate the situation", "exacerbate the problem", or "stoke the flames" depending on the context.

Is "fuel the fire" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "fuel the fire" is idiomatic and may be too informal for certain professional or academic contexts. Consider using a more neutral term like "intensify" or "aggravate" for formal writing. Choose alternative phrases such as "intensify" or "aggravate".