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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

"So should a fire flare-up and move towards those areas, there is no longer any fuel there to burn," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Investors breathed a sigh of relief at the data and pared their bets on a Fed rate hike this month, though analysts warned the latest US-Iran flare-up could complicate matters.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

Even before the latest flare-up, recent announcements shed light on Gulf oil producers’ thinking.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

“Investors have largely assumed the latest Middle East flare-up will remain contained and shipping disruptions manageable. That assumption has held remarkably well considering recent attacks,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 12, 2026

The lawyer’s sally induced guffaws, a courtroom flare-up that Judge Tate’s dour gaze soon extinguished.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

While the possibility remains that hostilities could flare up again in the Persian Gulf, Haefele is adamant that gradual de-escalation is ongoing, citing President President Trump’s assertion that a cease fire is still in effect.

From MarketWatch ● May 8, 2026

Officials in the Middle East believe there is a significant chance that war will flare up again—possibly with even greater intensity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Islamic republic had the "necessary will" to end the war, provided its enemies guaranteed it would not flare up again.

From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 2026

“Horses flare up and die down, flare up and die down,” said Lau.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2026

Dummies built to flare up bright and sudden, a ritual to celebrate the end of the year, something that was supposed to keep demons away.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• blowup
• epidemic
• eruption
• explosion
• outburst