Also used: add fuel to the flames throw fuel on the fire pour gasoline on the fire pour fuel on the fire fuel the fire fuel the flames Meaning of Idiom ‘Add Fuel to the Fire’ To add fuel to the fire means to make a bad situation worse; to do something that increases anger … Read more
Also: sure-fire Meaning of Idiom ‘Surefire’ When something is sure-fire, it is bound to be effective or bring results; certain and infallible; very likely (to be successful). Sure-fire is used as an adjective and forms collocations with many different terms. Sure-fire Collocations sure-fire success sure-fire solution sure-fire strategy sure-fire results sure-fire winner sure-fire hit sure-fire … Read more
When a blacksmith is forging, he must heat up a piece of metal until it glows red-hot. Then, he has a limited amount of time while the metal is still soft enough to be shaped with the hammer. If too many pieces of metal are heated in the forge at once, the blacksmith will not … Read more
Also: catch on fire Meaning of Idiom ‘Catch Fire’ 1. To catch fire means to be ignited; to start burning; to ignite and burn with flames. ,, 2. If an event, performance, artist, movement, idea, etc. catches fire, it becomes a subject of great interest and generates widespread enthusiasm and passion. , 3. To become … Read more
Meaning of Idiom ‘Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire’ To be out of the frying pan into the fire means to have escaped from a bad or dangerous situation only to find themselves in a worse one. ,, Usage This saying is often used with the word jump as in ‘he jumped out of the frying … Read more
This rarely heard idiom has existed since the early 1800’s. Meaning As an idiom, to hangfire (or hang fire) means to delay an action or to be delayed in an accomplishment or action; to come to no distinct result; to fail to achieve an expected result. Origin The literal meaning of hangfire or hang-fire comes … Read more
To go down in flames is a common English idiom that has several versions, including go up in flames, go up in smoke, and go down in smoke. The expression is also interesting in that, while most idioms don’t share any real-world cognates, go down in flames could easily be confused with a literal event, describing a building being destroyed by fire. … Read more
A flash in the pan is a common idiomatic expression which has its origins in the 16th century. Meaning of Flash in the Pan When we say something is a flash in the pan, we mean that it is a sudden success or effort that which is brief and unlikely to happen again. Usually, the expression is … Read more
Used metaphorically since the 1700’s, in phrases such as “fan the flames of discontent,” “fan the flames of insurrection,” or “fan the flames of love.” Meaning 1. to cause an emotion, especially a negative one, to become stronger 2. to incite someone to increase negative activities by causing them to become more aggravated. 3. to … Read more
Meaning of Idiom ‘Draw Fire’ To draw fire is to attract criticism or hostility, often from a more powerful person or organization or a large group. Usage “The President draws fire from conservatives for his social positions.” “The companies ill-consider television commercial drew fire from all quarters.” Origin Draw, in this idiom, is used to … Read more