Where does the idiom add fuel to the fire originate? (2023)

What is the origin of add fuel to the fire?

Also, add fuel to the flames. Worsen an already bad situation, as by increasing anger, hostility, or passion, as in Bill was upset, and your making fun of his mishap just added fuel to the fire. This metaphor dates from Roman times—Livy used it in his history of Rome—and it remains in common use.

The phrase 'add fuel to the fire' means when you do or say something that makes a miserable situation even worse. 'Adding fuel to the fire' means to make a situation or conflict intensify, especially via provocative comments.

Take part in a dangerous undertaking, as in You're playing with fire if you go behind his back and commit his department. Although the idea behind this metaphor is ancient, it was first recorded only in 1655.

The expression too many irons in the fire is derived from the trade of blacksmithing. If a blacksmith attempts to heat too many pieces of iron in his fire at once, it cools the fire and none of the pieces of iron will heat properly. The phrase too many irons in the fire dates back to the mid-1500s.

Meaning: Someone whom you cherish above all others. Example: My youngest daughter, Cherie is the apple of my eye.

Definition of when pigs fly

—used to say that one thinks that something will never happen The train station will be renovated when pigs fly.

Definition of piece of cake

: something easily done : cinch, breeze.

Definition of crocodile tears

: false or affected tears also : hypocritical sorrow.

: to know something completely I know this town like the back of my hand.

What does the saying sink or swim mean?

Definition of sink or swim

—used to refer to a situation in which someone either must succeed by his or her own efforts or fail completely They left me to sink or swim on my own.In this job, it's sink or swim.

A goal or action which is postponed until a future day is often never accomplished; do not procrastinate. quotations ▼ Tomorrow has no reality, since every day is experienced as today.

pyromaniac Add to list Share. Someone who loves to set fires — and, for whatever reason, can't stop setting them — is a pyromaniac. Maniac is a word attached to many words for mental illness, but this has to be one of the most scary.

Definition of bolt from the blue

: a complete surprise : something totally unexpected.

idiom. to have a strong personal opinion about something that you want people to accept and that is the reason why you do something: Environmentalists have no political axe to grind - they just want to save the planet.

have the ball at (one's) feet. To be in the best position to do something; to be in control. With your grades and extracurriculars, you'll have the ball at your feet in your college search. I want to have the ball at my feet at the most crucial moment in a game—I want to be the hero.

To fuel a situation means to make it become worse or more intense.

Worsen, intensify, aggravate and compound are similar, but exacerbate has the sense of an irritant being added in to make something bad even worse.

verbmake someone mad; become mad. acerbate. affront. aggravate. agitate.

Definition of in black and white

1 : in written or printed form I want to see it in black and white. 2 : in a way that involves a simple choice between two opposite things (such as good and bad or right and wrong) She sees everything in black and white.

What does Back to the Basics mean?

: to return to a simpler way of doing something or thinking about something. The restaurant is getting back to basics in terms of food, using fresh ingredients to make simple, good food.

Definition of in apple-pie order

: arranged neatly or perfectly : in perfect order Everything in the cupboard was (arranged) in apple-pie order.

to stop talking as if you were better or smarter than other people: It's time you came down off your high horse and admitted you were wrong.

1. Once in a blue moon: This poetic phrase refers to something extremely rare in occurrence. A blue moon is the term commonly used for a second full moon that occasionally appears in a single month of our solar-based calendars.

Definition of feet of clay

: a character flaw that is usually not readily apparent.

idiom. If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it immediately without stopping to think about it: People will file lawsuits at the drop of a hat these days. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.

idiom. informal. : to be too expensive. I want a new car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Definition of an arm and a leg

: a very large amount of money It's a reliable car, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Definition of go to the dogs

informal. : to become ruined : to change to a much worse condition Our favorite restaurant has gone to the dogs lately. The economy is going to the dogs.

Definition of someone's cup of tea

: something that someone likes or is good at —usually used in negative statements I'm afraid that skiing just is not my cup of tea. She admits that stamp collecting isn't everyone's cup of tea.

What is the idiom of at the eleventh hour?

Definition of eleventh hour

: the latest possible time before it is too late still making changes at the eleventh hour.

Definition of grin from ear to ear

: to grin very broadly He was grinning from ear to ear so we knew he had good news to tell us.

To “pass with flying colors” means to be extremely successful, to achieve something that is difficult, to excel. Reported by PS. From where did the phrase “passed with flying colors” come? It derives from when ships would return home with their “colors” (another word for flags) flying to show they had been victorious.

idiom. to be doing something that is dangerous or involves risks: He's skating on thin ice by lying to the police.

To provoke further a debate or controversy, a person's anger, etc.

to be in the same unpleasant situation as other people: She's always complaining that she doesn't have enough money, but we're all in the same boat.

The word “idiom” comes from the Greek word “idioma,” meaning peculiar phrasing. For example, “under the weather” is an idiom universally understood to mean sick or ill. If you say you're feeling “under the weather,” you don't literally mean that you're standing underneath the rain.

: to know something completely I know this town like the back of my hand.

How to Light and Feed a Fire - YouTube

What does “cut the mustard” mean? To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.

Can not cut the mustard?

When you use the expression 'Can't Cut the Mustard' you mean that someone is unable to succeed or meet expectations. Example of use: “I really like Jake, but he just can't cut the mustard.”

"To get/have butterflies in your stomach" is an idiomatic expression that means you are anxious and have a nervous feeling in your stomach. Here's an example: I used to get butterflies in my stomach before school tests.

Definition of grin from ear to ear

: to grin very broadly He was grinning from ear to ear so we knew he had good news to tell us.

To “pass with flying colors” means to be extremely successful, to achieve something that is difficult, to excel. Reported by PS. From where did the phrase “passed with flying colors” come? It derives from when ships would return home with their “colors” (another word for flags) flying to show they had been victorious.

idiom. to be doing something that is dangerous or involves risks: He's skating on thin ice by lying to the police.