fuel for the fire

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiomfigurative

   something that makes a strong feeling, argument, or problem worse or more intense

   Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun phrase: add fuel for the fire, but not 'a fuel for the fire'.

   Patterns

   • add fuel for the fire
   • provide fuel for the fire
   • be fuel for the fire

   His angry reply was fuel for the fire, and the argument lasted all evening.

   The new photos provided fuel for the fire, and the scandal grew even bigger.

   If you want to calm things down, don't add fuel for the fire by posting about it online.

2. 2phraseidiom

   literally, material that keeps a fire burning

   Grammar: This literal use is much rarer than the figurative one; it can be countable in context: a fuel for the fire.

   Patterns

   • gather fuel for the fire
   • dry wood as fuel for the fire

   We collected dry branches as fuel for the fire.

   Without fuel for the fire, the campers had to go to bed cold.

Common combinations

add fuel for the fire

His comments only added fuel for the fire.

provide fuel for the fire

The report provided fuel for the fire for critics of the plan.

more fuel for the fire

Every rumor gives them more fuel for the fire.

fuel for the fire of something

The delay was fuel for the fire of public anger.

Synonyms and how they differ

add insult to injury

This means to make a bad situation worse by an extra unkind act, while 'fuel for the fire' focuses on feeding an ongoing conflict or strong feeling.

pour oil on the flames

This is a close British-style image for making a conflict worse; 'fuel for the fire' is the more common American phrasing.

Word family

fuel verb

to make a feeling or situation stronger

fuel noun

material burned to produce heat or power

Commonly confused: fuel for the fire or firewood?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fuel for the fire”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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