throw gasoline on the fire

present singular third person throws gasoline on the fire · participle present throwing gasoline on the fire · past threw gasoline on the fire · participle past thrown gasoline on the fire

1. Synonym of add fuel to the fire.

   This is the height of racial paternalism—instead of objectively assessing the facts, the CRS was there to throw gasoline on the fire.

   2014, Ben Shapiro, The People Vs. Barack Obama: The Criminal Case Against the Obama ..., Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 182

   3 more examples

   Ish called me, laughing. “Mike, did you know we're in a fight?” We thought it was hysterical, and even joked about actually faking a fight just to throw gasoline on the fire.

   2005, Andrew Kamenetzky, Fishing on the Edge: He's Not Your Father's Fisherman, Random House Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 207

   So no, I wasn't going to stand there and throw gasoline on the fire by saying, “Ma, you're right. It looks like Danny hit Rosalia, no matter what she says.”

   2012, Bil Wright, Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 165

   My presence was likely to throw gasoline on the fire, and though I considered Anderson a friend, of sorts, we weren't close enough to justify me sticking my nose into his marital difficulties.

   2013, Jenna Black, Rogue Descendant, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 60

   Synonyms: add fuel to the fire