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• flare-up
  flare-up

  noun

  a sudden burst of fire or light
• flare up
  flare up

  Suddenly become angry, as in She flared up at the slightest provocation. This metaphoric expression, dating from the mid-1800s, transfers a sudden burst of flame to sudden rage.

flare-up

British  

noun

1. a sudden burst of fire or light

2. informal a sudden burst of emotion or violence

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verb

1. to burst suddenly into fire or light

2. informal to burst into anger

flare up Idioms  

1. Suddenly become angry, as in She flared up at the slightest provocation. This metaphoric expression, dating from the mid-1800s, transfers a sudden burst of flame to sudden rage.

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Example Sentences

In an interview with NBC on Sunday, hours before the flare-up, he reiterated his view that a deal with Iran was "very close".

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Crude futures settled lower with market expectations of a resolution to the U.S.-Iran conflict outweighing concerns of a renewed flare-up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

He remains shut down from throwing after a flare-up.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

Then came the war with Iran and bond-market worries about soaring oil prices and an inflation flare-up.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

The next flare-up came one evening in the sitting-room.

From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl

Related Words

• blowup
• epidemic
• eruption
• explosion
• outburst