fuel (redirected from added fuel to the fire)

add fuel to the fire and add fuel to the flame

Fig. to make a problem worse; to say or do something that makes a bad situation worse; to make an angry person get even angrier. (Alludes to causing a flame to grow larger someone or something to move forward when fuel is added.) Shouting at a crying child just adds fuel to the fire.

See also: add, fire

fuel something (up)

to put fuel into something. I have to fuel this car up before I go any farther. I need to fuel up the car.

fuel up

to fill one's tank with fuel. Let's stop here and fuel up. I need to fuel up at the next little town.

See also: up

take fuel on

to refuel; to be refueled. (Usually said of a large conveyance, such as a ship or a plane.) We need to land at the next major airport to take fuel on. We will land somewhere to take on fuel.

See also: take

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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: add, fire

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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: add, fire