"To pour oil on fire": the meaning of phraseology, synonyms and explanatory examples

How to name someone who does not calm, but, on the contrary, helps to inflame the conflict situation? Such a person can be called a provocateur. But it's too politically colored, so usually they say: "He likes to pour oil on the fire." The meaning of phraseology, concluded in the last three words, we will consider today.

What is meant?

"To add fuel to the fire" means to act as a factor in the escalation of the conflict and its escalation. Simply put, throw wood in the fire of a dispute or a quarrel between someone. To aggravate (as a rule, intentionally) an already complicated relationship.

For example, a schoolboy scolded for bad grades. He hung his head and was about to cry. And he has an older sister. She, driven either by false love of truth or harm, informs her parents: "And Vasya got a deuce from his behavior!"

If parents have a heart, they will turn to their daughter and ask: "And why pour oil on the fire?" The meaning of phraseology, its definition was given a little earlier.

In other words, the girl aggravates the already sad state of her brother. For the sake of justice, it must be said that it is rare when two conflicting parties draw their anger towards the instigator, without conspiring. Usually it happens that the one who "pours water at the mill of the conflict" helps the parties enter into emotional rage, and the conflict situation can not be stopped. She passed the point of no return. Disagreements between people, of course, are not always of a household nature, sometimes they are labor disputes. But here "fire and oil rush to help", to heat up the atmosphere.

Publication of the book (non-domestic dispute) and phraseology

There are two people: an editor and a writer. The editor tells the writer that his book is being published, but with some corrections. Asks to go to him, say, on Friday and look at the final version.

The writer comes and sees that it would be better if his book was thrown into a trash can or burned, than so corrected. Conflict erupts. The editor and the writer speak softly at first, then both gain momentum and start shouting at each other. An employee of the publishing house comes in and says that the manuscript of a certain Pupkov is ready for publication. Glanced at the editor, the man did not want to pour oil on the fire (the meaning of phraseology is already clear to us), but the writer was furious that Mr. Pupkov was even published, and ran out of the editor.

Fire and oil: is it always bad?

If we are talking about real fire and oil, then, of course, this is good. More oil - more fire. When it comes to language metaphor, then it is worth thinking about. But, despite the previous one, not a very positive example, the expression "pour oil on fire" (the meaning of phraseology is diverse, as we will see below) does not always carry a negative meaning. After all, a dispute between people can be not only personal, but also philosophical, political (like a lot of Russians) or cinematic. People can argue on these topics endlessly, but at the same time remain good friends.

Synonyms for phraseology

The phrase "pour oil into fire" can have a synonym amongst your fellow-stable expressions, and among ordinary words. For example, "pour oil into the fire" can be replaced by the phraseology "pour water on the mill," "heat up / steam," "bring to the handle / white heat," etc. Among the words, a synonym is easier to find, but still most verbs in This context will send one way or another to the fiery subjects: to fan the conflict, to inflame the interlocutors. Going to the science-like language, you can say "aggravate the situation" (already used in the text). Here everything is limited to the speaker's knowledge and preparation.