throwing gasoline on the fire
Making things worse
Throwing gasoline on the fire means making a bad situation worse through reckless or inflammatory action.
The image is of someone foolishly adding fuel to flames they should be trying to extinguish: His angry response just threw gasoline on the fire.
Often shortened to throwing gas on the fire.
Compare *adding fuel to the fire*, which suggests the same thing with less dramatic intensity.
- fanning the flamesWorsening a volatile situation
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- firestormSelf-perpetuating intense blaze
- impulsivityActing without considering consequences
- provocationAct that triggers response
incitement · outrage · chaos · antagonism · rashness · reckless behavior · disaster · point of no return · escalation · making matters worse · explosion · imprudence · aggravation · stirring the pot · exacerbation · ignition · spark · shortsightedness
throwing gasoline on the firede-escalating
Reducing intensity of conflict
lowering the temperature · making peace · building bridges · burying the hatchet · pouring oil on troubled waters
throwing gasoline on the firedamage control
Limiting further harm
mending fences · mitigating · alleviating · taking the edge off
throwing gasoline on the firepouring oil on troubled waters
Calming a dispute
talking someone down · keeping the peace · mollifying · placating · appeasing