English

Alternative forms

• add fuel to the fire, add fuel to the flame

Verb

add fuel to fire

1. Alternative form of add fuel to the fire.
   • 1859, Pye Henry Chavasse, Advice to a Mother on the Management of Her Offspring, 6th edition, London: John Churchill, New Burlington Street, page 97:

     Depend upon it, there is always a cause for want of appetite; […] inflammation may be in the system, food would then be improper, as it would only add fuel to fire: therefore, let the cause be an over-worked stomach, overloaded bowels, fever, or inflammation, food will be injurious.

   • 1867 October, “‘Our Van.’ The Invoice.—September Scrapings.”, in Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes‎, volume XIV, number 92, London: A. H. Baily & Co., Cornhill, page 50:

     We have no wish to add fuel to fire, and perhaps the whole circumstance of Pastorelle cutting such a very different figure to what she did on the first day was purely accidental.

Quotations

• For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:add fuel to fire.