Add fuel to the fire

Posted by ESC October 10, 2007In reply to Add fuel to the fire posted by X on October 10, 2007

Where did the idiom "add fuel to the fire" originate?

It's literal. One adds fuel (coal, wood or other combustible material) to a fire to make it burn brighter, hotter. If two people are arguing and you want to "add fuel to the fire," you tell Person 1 that Person 2 said bad things about him.