add fuel to the flame

add fuel to the flame: add fuel to the fire & add fuel to the flame

Fig. to make a problem worse; to say or do something that makes a bad situation worse; to make an angry person get even angrier. (Alludes to causing a flame to grow larger when fuel is added.) •
Shouting at a crying child just adds fuel to the fire.

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{v. phr.} To make a bad matter worse by adding to its cause; spread trouble, increase anger or other strong feelings by talk or action. * /By criticizing his son's girl, the father added fuel to the flame of his son's love./ * /Bob was angry with Ted and Ted added fuel to the flame by laughing at him./

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add fuel to the flame — {v. phr.} To make a bad matter worse by adding to its cause; spread trouble, increase anger or other strong feelings by talk or action. * /By criticizing his son s girl, the father added fuel to the flame of his son s love./ * /Bob was angry with … Dictionary of American idioms
add\ fuel\ to\ the\ flame — v. phr. To make a bad matter worse by adding to its cause; spread trouble, increase anger or other strong feelings by talk or action. By criticizing his son s girl, the father added fuel to the flame of his son s love. Bob was angry with Ted and… … Словарь американских идиом
add fuel to the flame — make a bad situation worse, make a problem greater … English contemporary dictionary
flame — See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME, GO UP IN FLAMES … Dictionary of American idioms
flame — See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME, GO UP IN FLAMES … Dictionary of American idioms
flame — See: add fuel to the flame, go up in flames … Словарь американских идиом
fuel — See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME … Dictionary of American idioms
fuel — See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME … Dictionary of American idioms
fuel — See: add fuel to the flame … Словарь американских идиом
feed the flame — add fuel to a fire; encourage strong feelings (anger, passion, etc.) … English contemporary dictionary

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