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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

See Examples For:

flare-up flare up

Coissac said he had spoken to one survivor of the wreck who came from the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, where rebels are battling the federal government in a recent flare-up of violence.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026

He said the flare-up of the Drumcree dispute should be "a bit of a warning shot or a wake-up call".

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

Given this flare-up in fighting, reporters asked if there would be an end to this war.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

Meanwhile, left tackle Rashawn Slater, who missed all of last season after sustaining a knee injury in training camp, was sidelined for much of August because of a flare-up to that same knee.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

I get my treatments, I take my medicine, I drink my body weight in milk shakes, I get to see Barb and Julie, I leave until my next flare-up.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott

But he makes the point that everyone's skin is individual and that "some people may find that other things flare up their skin".

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Left tackle Rashawn Slater is dealing with a flare up of his surgically repaired knee and missed practices this week.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Analysts say vessel traffic is unlikely to normalize until markets are convinced the easing of tensions can last and ships can navigate safely, leaving oil prices vulnerable to renewed swings if hostilities flare up again.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

"While geopolitical risks could still flare up, the more pressing issue appears to be macro-related," he said, pointing to the recent rise in sovereign bond yields and the prospect of central banks raising interest rates.

From Barron's ● May 21, 2026

Night had fallen, and even by the yellow glow of the gaslights, I could see her irritation flare up.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

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