Meaning of fan the flames | Babel Free

Definitions

To intensify or worsen an already difficult situation.

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“In simple terms, both superpowers poured gasoline on the fire and fanned the flames, hoping that out of the ashes would arise⟳ a region committed either to democracy or to Soviet-style communism.”

“Far from putting a distance between them, his absence was only fanning the flames of her affection.”

“They worried, too, that such a war would only fan the flames of the Islamic world's animosity toward the United States, producing "a further cycle of terrorist attacks, American casualties and escalation" […]”

“Atlanta newspapers fanned the flames of racial hatred by carrying stories of lynchings and calling for a renewed Ku Klux Klan to “control⟳” blacks.”

“What I don't see⟳ happening is the government fanning the flames of competition.”

CEFR level