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To make a bad situation worse by doing or saying something that increases anger, conflict, or tension.
No eches aceite al fuego con tus críticas ahora, están muy alterados.
Don't add fuel to the fire with your criticism now, they're very upset.
Si le cuentas lo que pasó, solo estarás echando aceite al fuego.
If you tell him what happened, you'll just be adding fuel to the fire.
Commonly used in interpersonal conflicts or heated discussions.
Associate 'echar aceite al fuego' with the image of pouring oil on a fire to remember that it means making a bad situation worse.
Use this idiom when someone's words or actions intentionally or unintentionally escalate a conflict or problem.
The phrase originates from the literal act of pouring oil onto a fire to make it burn more intensely. The metaphorical use emerged in Spanish as early as the 17th century, reflecting how adding more fuel exacerbates a problem.
This idiom is used to describe actions that escalate conflict or tension. It is often employed in social or emotional contexts rather than literal ones.