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add fuel to the fire/flames

to make an argument or a bad situation worse. His mild words only added fuel to the fire. Isabelle was furious.

See also: fire, flame, fuel

add insult to injury

to make a bad situation even worse for someone by doing something else to upset them. First of all he arrived an hour late and then, to add insult to injury, he proceeded to complain about my choice of restaurant.

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add fuel to the fire

to make a situation worse than it already is. Should the government warn the public of terrorist threats, or is this merely adding fuel to the fire?

See also: fire, fuel

add insult to injury

to make a bad situation worse. The airline charged me extra for checking in a bike and then added insult to injury by charging me for a box to pack it in.

add up

1. to be reasonable. His story of what happened to him just doesn't add up.

Usage notes: usually used with not, as in the example

2. to increase in expense. With five kids in the family, our medical bills really add up.

add up to something

to result in something. The details don't add up to a complete picture of what caused the explosion.