flare up

flare up

1. To begin to burn. Don't worry, the tinder will flare up eventually.
2. To begin to burn more intensely. The fire suddenly flared up and crackled even louder.
3. To suddenly worsen or intensify. My arthritis always seems to flare up at this time of year.
4. To suddenly lash out in anger. After I accidentally tapped that guy with my shopping cart, he just flared up and started screaming in my face!
5. To intensify into violence. This area is so unstable that war is liable to flare up at any moment.
See also: flare, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

flare up

 
1. Lit. [for something] to ignite and burn. The firewood flared up at last—four matches having been used.
2. Lit. [for a fire] to burn brightly again and expand rapidly. After burning quietly for a while, the fire suddenly flared up and made the room very bright.
3. Fig. [for a pain or medical condition] to get worse suddenly. My arthritis flares up during the damp weather.
4. Fig. [for a dispute] to break out or escalate into a battle. A war flared up in the Middle East. We can't send the whole army every time a dispute flares up.
5. and flare up at someone or something Fig. to lose one's temper at someone or something. I could tell by the way he flared up at me that he was not happy with what I had done. I didn't mean to flare up.
See also: flare, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

flare up

Suddenly become angry, as in She flared up at the slightest provocation. This metaphoric expression, dating from the mid-1800s, transfers a sudden burst of flame to sudden rage.
See also: flare, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

flare up

v.
1. To begin to increase in intensity: My rash flared up when I went outdoors into the sunshine.
2. To express sudden, strong negative emotions, especially anger or hate: The store manager flared up when the employee started talking back.
See also: flare, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • flame up
  • fire away
  • get down to work
  • on your mark(s)
  • on your marks
  • go on the game
  • break out in tears and break in tears
  • bring (something) into effect
  • carry (something) into effect
  • introduce (someone, something, or oneself) into (something)
References in periodicals archive
Washington, May 19 ( ANI ): Researchers have said that a statin drug commonly used to lower cholesterol is not effective in reducing the number and severity of flare ups from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Statin drugs 'not effective' in preventing COPD exacerbation
RRMS, is characterized by both flare ups and remission; during remission there are almost no symptoms.
New multiple sclerosis treatment reduces relapses by about 50 percent
They found significant improvement in lung function, quality of life and a reduction in disease flare ups for those receiving the new treatment.
SCIENTISTS say they have developed [...]; HEALTH IN BRIEF..
Tyagi said Monday that it is the habit of the BJP to first create communal flare ups through their speeches, and then do a volte-face to get into the public's mind space.
Change of mind part of BJP's poll strategy: K.C. Tyagi