fuel

add fuel to the fire

To do or say something to make an argument, problem, or bad situation worse; to further incense an already angry person or group of people. The debate was going poorly for the senatorial candidate, and his strikingly uncouth comments simply added fuel to the fire. Revelations of the CEO's massive retirement package added fuel to the fire for consumers already furious over the company's dubious financial dealings.
See also: add, fire, fuel

add fuel to the flame(s)

To do or say something to make an argument, problem, or bad situation worse; to further incense an already angry person or group of people. The debate was going poorly for the senatorial candidate, and his strikingly uncouth comments simply added fuel to the flames. Revelations of the CEO's massive retirement package added fuel to the flame for consumers already furious over the company's dubious financial dealings.
See also: add, fuel

add fuel to the flames

To do or say something to make an argument, problem, or bad situation worse; to further incense an already angry person or group of people. The debate was going poorly for the senatorial candidate, and his strikingly uncouth comments simply added fuel to the flames. Revelations of the CEO's massive retirement package added fuel to the flames for consumers already furious over the company's dubious financial dealings.
See also: add, flame, fuel

fuel the fire(s)

To do or say something to make an argument, problem, or bad situation worse; to further incense an already angry person or group of people. The debate was going poorly for the senatorial candidate, and his strikingly uncouth comments simply fueled the fires. Revelations of the CEO's massive retirement package fueled the fire for consumers already furious over the company's dubious financial dealings.
See also: fuel

fuel the flame(s)

To do or say something to make an argument, problem, or bad situation worse; to further incense an already angry person or group of people. The debate was going poorly for the senatorial candidate, and his strikingly uncouth comments simply fueled the flames. Revelations of the CEO's massive retirement package fueled the flame for consumers already furious over the company's dubious financial dealings.
See also: fuel

fuel up

To fill a car's gas tank with fuel. We need to stop and fuel up before getting on the highway.
See also: fuel, up

pour fuel on the fire

To do or say something to make an argument, problem, or bad situation worse; to further incense an already angry person or group of people. You know mom's upset with you. Don't pour fuel on the fire by coming home late again. Revelations of the CEO's massive retirement package poured fuel on the fire for consumers already furious over the company's dubious financial dealings.
See also: fire, fuel, on, pour

take fuel on

Of a vehicle or vessel, to have its storage of fuel replenished; to be refueled. The car pulled into the pit stop to take fuel on and have its tires replaced. With its tank dangerously low, the jet was forced to take fuel on midflight.
See also: fuel, on, take

take on fuel

Of a vehicle or vessel, to have its storage of fuel replenished; to be refueled. The car pulled into the pit stop to take on fuel and have its tires replaced. With its tank dangerously low, the jet was forced to take on fuel midflight.
See also: fuel, on, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

add fuel to the fire

 and add fuel to the flame
Fig. to make a problem worse; to say or do something that makes a bad situation worse; to make an angry person get even angrier. (Alludes to causing a flame to grow larger someone or something to move forward when fuel is added.) Shouting at a crying child just adds fuel to the fire.
See also: add, fire, fuel

fuel something (up)

to put fuel into something. I have to fuel this car up before I go any farther. I need to fuel up the car.

fuel up

to fill one's tank with fuel. Let's stop here and fuel up. I need to fuel up at the next little town.
See also: fuel, up

take fuel on

to refuel; to be refueled. (Usually said of a large conveyance, such as a ship or a plane.) We need to land at the next major airport to take fuel on. We will land somewhere to take on fuel.
See also: fuel, on, take
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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. For similar metaphors, see add insult to injury; fan the flames.
See also: add, fire, fuel
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

add fuel to the fire

or

add fuel to the flames

COMMON If something that someone says or does adds fuel to the fire or adds fuel to the flames, it makes a bad situation worse. You must not try to borrow more money to get yourself out of trouble. This really would be adding fuel to the fire. Her resignation is only likely to add fuel to the flames. Note: These expressions are very variable. For example, you can say that something fuels the fire or fuels the flames, or just that it adds fuel. I'm not going to fuel the fire here: people are perfectly entitled to their own opinion. His comments are bound to add fuel to the debate already taking place within the party about the Greens' public image.
See also: add, fire, fuel
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

add fuel to the fire (or flames)

(of a person or circumstance) cause a situation or conflict to become more intense, especially by provocative comments.
See also: add, fire, fuel
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

add ˌfuel to the ˈfire/ˈflames

do or say something which makes a difficult situation worse, or makes somebody even more angry, etc: She was already furious and his apologies and excuses only added fuel to the flames. OPPOSITE: pour oil on troubled water(s)
See also: add, fire, flame, fuel
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

fuel up

v.
To fill the gas tank of a vehicle with gasoline or other fuel: The family fueled up the car before leaving for the lake. I fueled the truck up so we wouldn't have to stop. It's time to go; let's fuel up.
See also: fuel, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

take on fuel

tv. to drink alcohol to excess. They stopped at the tavern to take on fuel.
See also: fuel, on, take
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

add fuel to the fire/flames, to

To exacerbate an already inflammatory situation, increasing anger or hostility. The Roman historian Livy used this turn of phrase (in Latin) nearly two thousand years ago, and it was repeated (in English) by numerous writers thereafter, among them John Milton (Samson Agonistes, 1671): “He’s gone, and who knows how he may report thy words by adding fuel to the flame.”
See also: add, fire, fuel
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • add fuel to the fire
  • add fuel to the fire/flames
  • add fuel to the flame(s)
  • add fuel to the flames
  • fan the flames
  • fan the flames, to
  • fuel the fire(s)
  • fuel the flame(s)
  • pour gas/gasoline on the fire
  • pour fuel on the fire
References in periodicals archive
There are seven levels in the fuel surcharge matrix, each defining how much the airlines can charge on a per-kilometer basis.
Airfares to go down next month as CAB approves fuel surcharge cut
In terms of product categories, sales volumes increased 1.4 percent for diesel fuel, 7.3 percent for diesel fuel for farming, 43.4 percent for fuel oil and 1.2 percent for gasoline.
Latvian fuel sales up 0.3% in H1
Aviation industry has contributed about 12% of CO2 emissions from all sources of transportation compared to 74% from road transport, from that the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the aviation industry is the fuel used by an aircraft[3].
COMMERCIAL AVIATION ALTERNATIVE FUEL AND A REVIEW ON ITS FUEL READINESS LEVEL
While flying over mountainous terrain about 25 miles from my destination late one night, I noticed the fuel pressure needle bouncing off zero, followed quickly by the low fuel pressure light.
Fuel systems 101: most fuel-system accidents result from poor planning or failure to understand how the aircraft's engine is supplied
Today's lower sulfur amounts in diesel fuel--which removes most harmful nitrogen and oxygen compounds--multiplies saturates, which increases the tendency of fuel to gel and plug the fuel filter during cold weather conditions as well.
Fuel management 101
RCI Technologies, founded in 1994, offers a complete line of fuel purification and filtration products, which include the Universal Fuel Purifier, the Portable Fuel Polishing Unit, FRS Automatic Fuel Recirculating System, fuel filters, fuel coalescers, bag filters, fuel additives, spill kits and fuel testing equipment.
RCI Now Provides Final Filtration Solutions
That adapter is what you need to connect the auxiliary fuel hose of your generator set to an auxiliary fuel source.
Avoid another long, hard walk
Aircraft fuel expense increased 16%, or $75 million, due to a 10% increase in average fuel cost per gallon, or $48 million after the impact of fuel hedging, and an increase of 13 million gallons of aircraft fuel consumed, resulting in $27 million in additional fuel expense.
United States : JetBlue Airways Corp. Reports Operating Results
Fuel for those convoys and for other operations was available when and where it was needed.
Fuel support at Contingency Operating Base Speicher
Fuel support through southern Iraq began when the operational Army in Kuwait requested a 14-day supply of fuel from the Defense Logistics Agency's Defense Energy Support Center.
The changing face of fuel management
Two teams have independently discovered ways to dramatically improve the materials used in the electrodes of fuel cells.
Electrode enhancements: new materials may boost fuel cell performance
Worldwide development of hydrogen as the transport fuel of the future is growing exponentially, with Europe a dynamic center of hydrogen activity.
Emission-free Europe: hydrogen projects, from Iceland to Italy
But this time the huge jet would not be powered by standard JP-8 jet fuel alone.
The promise of synthetic fuel: coal-to-liquid technologies, pioneered almost 80 years ago, have the potential to free America from its dependence on foreign oil
As the next round of emissions regulations are phased in, vehicle and equipment manufacturers in both the on- and off-highway industries are focused on supplying efficient machines that meet emissions requirements while still maintaining fuel economy.
Fuel catalyst engineered to reduce emissions, improve fuel economy