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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

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

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

Some AI stocks are rising even as investors fret about a flare-up in inflation, while Casey’s sinks despite a first-quarter earnings beat.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 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

Gold futures fell for a third straight session as a global bond selloff pushed yields up and the flare-up in the Middle East sent crude prices higher.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Towards the end of term he had a flare-up of asthma and wandered wheezing around the house in pajamas and bathrobe, hair standing on end, gasping theatrically at his inhaler.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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

But Apple’s “go-slow” strategy comes in handy on days when investor concerns about AI overspending flare up, insulating the stock from downturns that hit the semiconductor space.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

"At first glance, it may seem under control, but it can flare up again because it re-emerges, sometimes from great depths," explained regional government spokesperson Stephanie Ernoux.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Katie described how Yann would "flare up" if he was in a room with any of his allergens.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

Some streets away from the square, I see a blaze flare up.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• blowup
• epidemic
• eruption
• explosion
• outburst