flare up

flare up 

1. Lit. [for something] to ignite and burn. The firewood flared up at last—four matches having been used.

2. Lit. [for a fire] to burn brightly again and expand rapidly. After burning quietly for a while, the fire suddenly flared up and made the room very bright.

3. Fig. [for a pain or medical condition] to get worse suddenly. My arthritis flares up during the damp weather.

4. Fig. [for a dispute] to break out or escalate into a battle. A war flared up in the Middle East. We can't send the whole army every time a dispute flares up.

5. and flare up at someone or something Fig. to lose one's temper at someone or something. I could tell by the way he flared up at me that he was not happy with what I had done. I didn't mean to flare up.

See also: flare, up

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flare up

to happen suddenly Severe thunderstorms flare up there at almost any time during the summer. You may not feel like chopping vegetables when the pain in your hands flares up.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of flare up (to suddenly burn brightly)

See also: flare, up