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to flare up

to flare up

23 4.7
To become suddenly stronger or worse, often for a short time
  • phrasal verb
  • /flɛr ʌp/
translation icon : intensificarse
  • During this phase, trouble flared up again, particularly in the crowded alleys of Lahore.
  • flare up again

But if you kick the sand, then it flares up again and that's, that's PTSD.

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Examples

  • Mm... it flares up from time to time.

  • I was stupid to leave my pain pills in New York... ...but it's been a while since it's flared up.

  • My old shoulder injury just flared up.

  • But every now and then your feelings flare up and that's OK.

  • When she saw that, her asthma flared up again.

  • My bursitis is really flaring up again.

  • They flare up every few months.

  • Her arthritis is flaring up, with pain in her back, her legs, and her hands.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • My OCD flares up so much when traveling because there's so many factors that come with traveling that I have no control over.

  • My old shoulder injury suddenly flared up after years of being fine.

Synonyms

to break out
vsto flare up
140 3.8

To start suddenly, often with something dangerous like a fire or disease

is sudden intensification that can be shorter or less eventful
to erupt
vsto flare up
123 4.2

To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling

is sudden intensification that can cover milder or medical cases too
to heat up
vsto flare up
57 3.4

To become more intense or make a situation more intense

is sudden worsening or intensifying rather than gradual excitement
to flare
vsto flare up
51 4.4

To become suddenly more intense, often about anger or violence

is sudden intensification used for many things, not only anger
to spike
vsto flare up
51 3.4

To rise suddenly and sharply

is sudden worsening or activation not limited to measurable spikes
to shoot up
vsto flare up
25 4.1

Rise quickly to a much higher level

is sudden rise in intensity or severity rather than numeric increase
to act up
vsto flare up
15 5.9

A body part or health problem that starts to cause pain again after getting better

is sudden intensification across many things, not only bodily recurrence
to combust
vsto flare up
4 8.2

To become suddenly very angry and lose control

is sudden increase in intensity that also covers non-emotional cases
to break open
vsto flare up
2 4.7

To start suddenly and strongly, like an argument or a strong feeling

is sudden intensification but more about worsening than bursting open
to shot through the roof
vsto flare up
  • Informal
2 5.7

To rise very quickly to a much higher level

is sudden intensification that can be less about measurable amounts
to flare in
vsto flare up
1 6.7

Become suddenly stronger or easier to notice after a quiet time

is sudden intensification that often makes things worse or active again
to flame up
vsto flare up
1 4.6

To suddenly start burning strongly or become much more intense

is sudden worsening or intensifying across fires, feelings, or conditions
to blaze up
vsto flare up
1 4.9

To start burning with a strong bright flame

is similar but applies beyond literal burning to other problems
to fulminate
vsto flare up
  • Specialized
1 9.5

To become suddenly very severe, as a disease or symptom

is broader sudden intensification beyond medical development
to hot up
vsto flare up
  • UK
1 7.7

To become more active or exciting in a situation

is sudden worsening rather than general increase in excitement

Antonyms

to calm down
  • Informal
594 1.4

To become less angry, excited, or upset

47 4.8

Become less strong, as with pain, noise, or excitement

How Intense

to explode
579 2.8
to erupt
123 4.2
to flare up
23 4.7
to intensify
110 4.0
to increase
1.0

Surface Forms

flare up infinitive
flared up past
flared up past participle
flaring up present participle
flares up third person singular

Morphology

flare + up

Both constituents contribute directly to the overall meaning: 'flare' already denotes a sudden intensification or outbreak and the particle 'up' signals an increase or escalation. This is a regular verb+particle composition that is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrase flare up comes from the image of a small flare or flame that suddenly grows bright and jumps up. So, we use it for anger, pain, or fights that 'suddenly become stronger or worse'.