Add Fuel to the Fire 🔥
Definition: To exacerbate an already inflammatory situation, increasing anger or hostility.
This fiery cliché has sustained itself across centuries, with the Roman historian Livy using a Latin version nearly two thousand years ago. Fast forward to the bustling 17th century, and you’ll find John Milton picking up this phrase with dramatic flair in his work, Samson Agonistes (1671): “He’s gone, and who knows how he may report thy words by adding fuel to the flame.”
Similar Expressions:
- Adding insult to injury
- Throwing gasoline on the fire
- Pouring oil on the flames
- Fanning the flames
Proverbs, quotes, and related terms:
- Proverb: “Don’t rock the boat when the water is calm.” – An advice to maintain peace rather than stirring up trouble.
- Quote: “Friction is a drag or slogan, especially when adding fuel to the fire.” – W.T. Wittywords.
Synonyms:
- Aggravate
- Exasperate
- Provoke
- Worsen
Antonyms:
- Alleviate
- Calm
- Mitigate
- Soothe
Witty Commentary 🤔
Think of someone who decides to settle a heated cartographic debate by sharing a clip from the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens. “Adding fuel to the fire” in a Reddit thread, eh?
Inspirational Ideas 💡
Ever pondered how movie scenarios would change if characters chose to “extinguish the fire” rather than fuel it? Imagine The Avengers sitting down for a diplomatic tea party instead of an all-out war!
Recommended Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- Book: The Crucible by Arthur Miller – Hysteria and finger-pointing escalate circumstances to a fever pitch.
- Song: “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel – A musical recap of decades of adding one thing after another to the raging ‘fire’ of history.
- Movie: Fight Club – Because adding combustible personalities only leads to an explosion.
- Poem: “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost – A concise yet powerful meditation on destruction by fire or ice.
Farewell, fellow word explorer! Remember, the phrases you sprinkle can either extinguish fires or set them ablaze. Choose wisely!
Ignatius Bonfire
