Echar leña al fuego
Example: No debes echar leña al fuego durante la discusión.
Definition
"Echar leña al fuego" is a Spanish expression meaning to make a situation worse by adding more problems or provoking further conflict. It is often used when someone intensifies an argument or dispute unnecessarily, as in the phrase, "No debes echar leña al fuego durante la discusión."
Etymology
The expression "echar leña al fuego" literally means "to throw firewood on the fire." It originated from the idea that adding more wood to a fire causes it to burn stronger and hotter. Figuratively, this evolved to mean escalating a conflict or worsening a problem by adding fuel to it.
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"Echar leña al fuego" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (C1) - parte 1", containing 120 commonly used expressions.
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to add fuel to the fire