fan the flame

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiomfigurative

   To make a strong feeling, argument, or conflict stronger or more intense.

   Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; often with a plural object like 'the flames' or with a noun after 'of', e.g. 'fan the flames of anger'.

   Patterns

   • fan the flames of something
   • fan the flames

   His careless remark only fanned the flames of the argument.

   The newspaper story fanned the flames of public anger.

   If you keep bringing up old mistakes, you will just fan the flame.

2. 2phraseidiom

   Literally, to make a fire burn more strongly by waving air toward it.

   Grammar: Used literally when talking about fires; the object is usually 'the flames' or 'the fire'.

   Patterns

   • fan the flames
   • fan the fire

   She used a piece of cardboard to fan the flames of the campfire.

   The wind fanned the flames and the fire spread quickly.

Common combinations

fan the flames of anger

His speech fanned the flames of anger among the crowd.

fan the flames of conflict

Sending more troops could fan the flames of conflict.

fan the flames of hatred

Such rumors fan the flames of hatred between the groups.

only fan the flames

Criticizing him in public will only fan the flames.

Synonyms and how they differ

stoke

Stoke is used more for making a strong feeling or situation stronger, often in a deliberate way, and can be used without 'the flames'.

inflame

Inflame is more formal and often means to make feelings like anger or hatred stronger; it does not need 'the flames'.

intensify

Intensify is a general word for making something stronger and is not figurative like 'fan the flames'.

Opposites

Commonly confused: fan the flame or fuel the fire?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fan the flame”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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