poured gasoline on the fire
Made things worse
To pour gasoline on the fire is to make a bad situation dramatically worse, usually through reckless words or actions.
The image is vivid—gasoline doesn't just feed flames, it causes explosive intensification.
His angry response only poured gasoline on the fire.
The phrase emphasizes that the escalation was avoidable, often implying blame.
- stirred the potIntentionally provoked discord
- added fuel to the fireAggravated existing tensions
- threw gas on the fireEscalated a conflict
- fanned the flamesIntensified a volatile situation
- turned up the heatIncreased intensity or pressure
made matters worse · rubbed salt in the wound · provocation · escalation · crossed the line · poked the bear · retaliation · antagonism · confrontation · bad blood · discord · scorched earth · aggression · inflammatory · hostility · feud · dispute
poured gasoline on the firebuilt bridges
Created pathways for understanding
made peace · de-escalated · kept the peace · poured oil on troubled waters · mediated
poured gasoline on the firestepped back
Moved away backward