add fuel to the fire

Idioms  

1. Also, add fuel to the flames. Worsen an already bad situation, as by increasing anger, hostility, or passion, as in Bill was upset, and your making fun of his mishap just added fuel to the fire. This metaphor dates from Roman times—Livy used it in his history of Rome—and it remains in common use. For similar metaphors, see add insult to injury; fan the flames.

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Example Sentences

Is this savvy PR or adding fuel to the fire?

From MarketWatch

Investors were already responding enthusiastically prior to the employment report to Nvidia’s strong earnings report late Wednesday, but the jobs figures added fuel to the fire.

From The Wall Street Journal

“They add fuel to the fire of this city’s star power. It’s an energy, a force. It makes people want to show up.”

From Los Angeles Times

Lower courts have blocked the deployment there thus far, with an appeals court saying such a move would "likely to lead to civil unrest" and "only add fuel to the fire".

From BBC

And the technological revolution could add fuel to the fire of economic weakness that is already putting pressure on hiring, the analysts added.

From MarketWatch