add fuel to the fire

idiom/æd ˈfjuːəl tə ðə ˈfaɪər/ 🔊 listen

Add fuel to the fire means to make an already bad or tense situation even worse with your words or actions. Like throwing fuel onto flames, you intensify a conflict that's already burning.

📖 Meanings

1to make a bad situation even worse
"Yelling back just added fuel to the fire." — Yelling back just made the situation worse.
2to intensify an already tense conflict
"His sarcastic comment added fuel to the fire." — His sarcastic comment made the conflict even worse.

🔄 Related phrases

make matters worse →pour oil on the flames →stir things up →

💬 Common patterns

add fuel to the firethat added fuel to the fireadd fuel to the flames
❓ How do you say you made an already tense situation worse?