add fuel to the fire

Meaning

To make a conflict, argument, or difficult situation even worse, more intense, or angrier. It is often used when someone says or does something that escalates an already tense situation.

Examples

• Bringing up his past mistakes will only add fuel to the fire.

  Bringing up his past mistakes will only add fuel to the fire.

• She was already angry, and his sarcastic comment just added fuel to the fire.

  She was already angry, and his sarcastic comment just added fuel to the fire.

• I wanted to explain my side, but I realized it would just add fuel to the fire.

  I wanted to explain my side, but I realized it would just add fuel to the fire.

• Please don't say anything to him right now; you'll only add fuel to the fire.

  Please don't say anything to him right now; you'll only add fuel to the fire.

• The media coverage of their breakup added fuel to the fire.

  The media coverage of their breakup added fuel to the fire.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ His reaction put fuel to the fire.

  ✓ His reaction added fuel to the fire.

  The correct verb is 'add' (or sometimes 'throw'), not 'put'.

• ✗ Don't add fuel in the fire.

  ✓ Don't add fuel to the fire.

  The correct preposition is 'to the fire', not 'in the fire'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• They were already arguing, and his late arrival just ___.

  💡 Made the argument worse (past tense).

  Show answer

  added fuel to the fire

• I chose to stay silent because I didn't want to ___.

  💡 Make the conflict worse.

  Show answer

  add fuel to the fire