pour gasoline on the fire

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

pour gasoline on the fire (third-person singular simple present pours gasoline on the fire, present participle pouring gasoline on the fire, simple past and past participle poured gasoline on the fire)

1. (idiomatic) Synonym of add fuel to the fire
   • 1992, Douglas Brinkley, Dean Acheson: The Cold War Years, 1953-71, Yale University Press, published 1992, →ISBN, page 295:

     Instead of using the opportunity to ease the tensions between Bonn and Washington, Acheson chose to pour gasoline on the fire.

   • 2003, Dennis Piszkiewicz, Terrorism's War with America: A History, Greenwood Press, published 2003, →ISBN, page 39:

     The Ayatollah Khomeini poured gasoline on the fire with his comments on the mosque seizure, which were broadcast by Iranian radio the day after the attack.

   • 2008, E. L. Merkel, Virgins and Martyrs, Five Star, published 2008, →ISBN, page 223:

     As I waited, my silence seemed to pour gasoline on the fire of Jack Reagan's irritation.

Synonyms

• fan the flames
• make matters worse

Translations

add fuel to the fire — see add fuel to the fire