fat hit the fire

the fat hit the fire

The point at which a situation abruptly, and perhaps drastically, worsens. Mom already seemed annoyed, but the fat really hit the fire when she found out that you'd been lying to her.
See also: fat, fire, hit
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*fat hit the fire

Fig. a situation that suddenly becomes frantic and unpleasant. (*Typically: suddenly ~; then ~; when ~.) Things were looking bad in the stock market, then the fat hit the fire and I lost everything.
See also: fat, fire, hit
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • the fat hit the fire
  • Did I stutter?
  • turn of the screw
  • a turn of the screw
  • be climbing the walls
  • climb the wall
  • climb the walls
  • climbing the walls
  • labor the point
  • labour the point