fan the flames
Escalate the situation
To fan the flames is to intensify a conflict, controversy, or strong emotion—making something already heated burn hotter.
The image is literal: fanning a fire feeds it oxygen and makes it grow.
His inflammatory remarks only fanned the flames of the debate.
Usually implies making a bad situation worse, whether deliberately or carelessly.
- exacerbateMake a situation worse
- inciteUrge toward action
- escalateIncrease in severity
- stir the potDeliberately create or prolong conflict
- aggravateMake more severe
throw oil on the fire · stir up trouble · worsen · rub salt in the wound · provoke · poke the bear · kindle · stoke · instigate · fuel · ignite · foment · make matters worse · spark · antagonize · rabble-rouse · intensify · add fuel to the fire
- fire idiomsplay with fire, fight fire with fire, add fuel to fire, on fire, catch fire
- troublemakingtroublemaker, troublemaking, instigate, agitator, instigating
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- escalationescalation, escalate, ratchet up, worsen, intensify
fan the flamescalm down
Become less agitated
defuse · quell · dampen · cool down · extinguish
fan the flamespour oil on troubled waters
Calm a tense situation
make peace · mediate · pacify · reconcile · build bridges
flame, fans, flaming, flames, inflame, fanned, flammable, fanning, inflammation