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Glite Dictionary
to stir the embers

to stir the embers

7.8
To make old feelings or memories strong again
  • idiom
translation icon : reavivar
  • Sometimes a song can stir the embers of sadness you thought was gone.

Examples

  • We tried to stir the embers of our childhood friendship during the reunion.

  • Don't stir the embers of that argument!

  • She hoped to stir the embers of creativity by revisiting her old studio.

  • He decided to stir the embers of their old friendship.

  • Sometimes a song can stir the embers of sadness you thought was gone.

  • She hoped to stir the embers of creativity by revisiting her old studio.

  • We tried to stir the embers of our childhood friendship during the reunion.

Synonyms

to bring back
vsto stir the embers
143 3.0

Make someone remember something from the past

is focused on reviving faded emotional traces not mere remembering
to evoke
vsto stir the embers
71 4.8

To bring a memory, image, or feeling to mind

is more about renewing and strengthening faded feelings rather than just prompting recall
to ignite
vsto stir the embers
47 4.4

To cause strong feelings in someone

is gentler, focusing on bringing back faded feelings not intense arousal
to rekindle
vsto stir the embers
33 5.1

Make a feeling or interest strong again

is focused on reviving things that were nearly forgotten
to bring back memories
vsto stir the embers
21 3.5

To make someone remember the past, for example a song or photo

is about reviving slowly fading memories rather than simple recall
to dredge up
vsto stir the embers
18 6.2

To mention an unpleasant or forgotten memory from the past

is gentler, aiming to revive old feelings rather than force unpleasant recall
to reignite
vsto stir the embers
3 5.6

To make a fire or embers start burning again

is more about gentle revival than sudden strong arousal
to relight
vsto stir the embers
5.1

Make a feeling, interest, or memory come back

is about bringing back faded emotions rather than starting new ones
to enkindle
vsto stir the embers
  • Archaic
9.1

To make something start to burn, like a fire or a strong feeling

is less about vivid start and more about reviving small fading traces
to rake up old memories
vsto stir the embers
  • Informal
6.8

Remember past events on purpose, often ones you would rather forget

is about softly reviving faded feelings not stirring painful past details
to rediscover fire
vsto stir the embers
  • Informal
8.6

To find new energy or passion for something

is narrower, focusing on reviving old feelings not creating fresh grand passion

Antonyms

to forget
∞ 1.0

Not remember something you should remember

to extinguish
21 5.5

End something completely, for example a custom or a debt

How Revived

to resurrect
42 6.8
to rekindle
33 5.1
to stir the embers
7.8
to reawaken
10 5.1
to remind
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

stir the embers infinitive
stirred the embers past
stirred the embers past participle
stirring the embers present participle
stirs the embers third person singular

Morphology

stir + the + ember

The literal action of 'stir(ing) the embers' (reviving a dying fire) maps clearly onto the figurative sense of rekindling feelings or memories, so a learner who knows 'stir' and 'ember' can plausibly infer the metaphor. However, the meaning depends on a conventional metaphorical extension rather than purely compositional semantics, so it is not fully transparent in the same way as literal verb+particle constructions.

Etymology

Stir the embers comes from the image of a dying fire: if you stir the glowing embers, you can wake the flames and make the fire burn again. That's why the phrase means 'to bring back feelings or memories'.