to feed the fire

Examples

• All

• Visits from the foreign press only feed the fire.

  Academic text (2006)

• I have to feed the fire and keep the horses maintained.

  Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985)

• And air will feed the fire.

  Abigail (2019)

• I feed the fire to heat the pottage again, and milk the goats once more.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Inside, he found that the girl had fed the fire with hickory logs, and it blazed high; the room was as bright and warm as it would ever be.

  Fiction book (1997)

• But she was too busy, stirring, tasting, pouring broth, and feeding the fire.

  Fiction book (1994)

• With her older sister and mother, she waited all night, dozing now and then, feeding the fire with cobs and hay twists.

  Fiction book (1997)

• He sat with the women and chatted and laughed; drank his wassail and fed the fire.

  Fiction book (2000)

• He stood by the campsite, adding logs to feed the fire and keep it warm throughout the night.

• As the argument escalated, her comments seemed to feed the fire rather than help resolve the conflict.

Synonyms

F

to fuel

vsto feed the fire

177 4.3

To make feelings, arguments or actions stronger

is narrower, focusing on keeping a blaze burning or intensifying conflict specifically

F

to fire up

vsto feed the fire

• Informal

70 4.1

Make people feel excited and ready to act

is used to intensify hostility or keep a blaze burning rather than raise enthusiasm

H

to heat up

vsto feed the fire

57 3.4

To become more intense or make a situation more intense

is used mainly for worsening conflicts or keeping a blaze burning, not neutral excitement

T

to turn up the heat

vsto feed the fire

26 4.2

Make a situation more urgent to force someone to act

is aimed at worsening conflict or keeping a blaze burning rather than forcing action

F

to fan the flames

vsto feed the fire

• Informal

8 7.2

To make an argument or feeling worse by encouraging it

is broader, also fits literal keeping of a blaze burning rather than only provoking

A

to add fuel to the fire

vsto feed the fire

• Informal

7 5.9

To make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something that makes people angrier

also covers literal putting more material to keep a blaze burning and wider intensifying

S

to stoke

vsto feed the fire

7 5.6

To add fuel or stir a fire to make it burn hotter

is also used metaphorically to increase conflict rather than only tend a blaze

S

to stoke up

vsto feed the fire

• Informal

1 5.4

To add fuel to a fire or make energy and excitement stronger

matches that idea but also covers literal maintaining of a real blaze

I

to inflame tensions

vsto feed the fire

• Literature

1 7.4

Make people more angry and cause conflict between groups

is similar but also includes literal tending of physical blaze as well as hostility

P

to pour gasoline on the fire

vsto feed the fire

• Informal

1 7.3

Make a bad situation worse by what you say or do

is similar but can describe steady intensifying rather than sudden worsening

I

to inflame

vsto feed the fire

1 5.7

To make something start burning, for example paper or dry grass

is about continuing or increasing an existing burn or conflict rather than starting it

P

to pour fuel on the fire

vsto feed the fire

• Informal

7.3

To make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something

is broader, also includes steady action that keeps intensity over time

Antonyms

E

to extinguish

23 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

How Intense

to fan the flames

• Informal

8 7.2

to inflame

31 5.8

to feed the fire

2 4.8

to aggravate

73 4.6

to worsen

61 3.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology