Proverb / Kotowaza
火に油を注ぐ
To make a bad or intense situation even worse by taking an action that fans the flames.
To pour oil onto a fire
Quick Answer
To make a bad or intense situation even worse by taking an action that fans the flames.
- Literal Image
- To pour oil onto a fire
- How to Use It
- Used when someone's words or actions aggravate an existing problem or an emotional outburst.
Meaning
This expression refers to taking an action that increases the intensity of something already powerful. It describes worsening a conflict, argument, or someone's anger by adding more provocation or making a bad situation more severe.
Literal Image
To pour oil onto a fire
How to Use It
Used when someone's words or actions aggravate an existing problem or an emotional outburst.
Tone
Used in critical or cautionary contexts to describe negative escalation.
Examples
彼の失礼な言い訳は、上司の怒りに火に油を注ぐ結果となった。
His rude excuse ended up pouring oil on his boss's anger.
これ以上余計なことを言うのは、騒動に火に油を注ぐようなものだ。
Saying anything more unnecessary is like pouring oil on the commotion.
野次馬の声が、喧嘩の現場に火に油を注いでいる。
The voices of onlookers are pouring oil on the scene of the fight.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses vocabulary and a straightforward grammatical structure, but the transitive use of the verb 'sosogu' (to pour) and the idiomatic nuance are important for learners.
火
ひ / hi
fire
油
あぶら / abura
oil
注ぐ
そそぐ / sosogu
to pour; to shed
Usage Profile
Usage note: Ensure the situation being described is already negative or intense before using this.
Misread Risk
Do not assume it refers to physical fire; the expression is used for social or emotional escalation, such as anger or trouble.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
Derived from the natural principle that pouring oil onto a blazing fire causes it to burn even more intensely. A similar expression is also attributed to the ancient Roman historian Livy.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.