add fuel to the fire; exacerbate; intensify
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to add fuel to the fire; to exacerbate a situation; to make matters worse
Metaphorical idiom describing actions that worsen an already tense, angry, or difficult situation. Often carries a negative connotation, implying that someone's words or actions are intensifying a conflict rather than resolving it.
Nǐ你
bié别
zài再
huǒ火
shàng上
jiā加
yóu油
le了
，
tā他
yǐ已
jīng经
gòu够
shēng生
qì气
le了
。
Don't add fuel to the fire—he's already angry enough.
Zài在
zhè这
zhǒng种
jǐn紧
zhāng张
jú局
shì势
xià下
，
rèn任
hé何
tiǎo挑
xìn衅
dōu都
shì是
huǒ火
shàng上
jiā加
yóu油
。
In this tense situation, any provocation is adding fuel to the fire.
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Nǐ你
zhè这
yàng样
zuò做
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
huǒ火
shàng上
jiā加
yóu油
，
ràng让
shì事
qíng情
biàn变
de得
gèng更
zāo糟
le了
。
Doing this is simply adding fuel to the fire, making the situation even worse.
Méi媒
tǐ体
de的
bù不
shí实
bào报
dào道
wú无
yí疑
shì是
huǒ火
shàng上
jiā加
yóu油
。
The media's false reporting is undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire.