flare-up

noun

1. a sudden burst of fire or light

2. informal,  a sudden burst of emotion or violence

verb

1. to burst suddenly into fire or light

2. informal,  to burst into anger

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Related Words

• blowup 
• epidemic 
• eruption 
• explosion 
• outburst