Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
3,899,242,324 visitors served.
forum Join the Word of the Day Mailing List For webmasters
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

flare up

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
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

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


Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Feedback
References in classic literature?   Idioms browser?   Full browser?
She would flare up at them and make trouble, in her small but quite decided and resolute way; for she has a character of her own, and lacks neither promptness nor initiative.
The colonel, thinking it all over, made up his mind not to pursue the matter further, but then for his own satisfaction proceeded to cross-examine Vronsky about his interview; and it was a long while before he could restrain his laughter, as Vronsky described how the government clerk, after subsiding for a while, would suddenly flare up again, as he recalled the details, and how Vronsky, at the last half word of conciliation, skillfully maneuvered a retreat, shoving Petritsky out before him.
Even the most radical flare up at this infamous proposal of the Communists.
 
 
 
Idioms and phrases
?

Terms of Use | Privacy policy | Feedback | Advertise with Us | Copyright © 2012 Farlex, Inc.
Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.