fan the flames
US /fæn ðə fleɪmz/
UK /fæn ðə fleɪmz/
1.
atiçar as chamas, colocar lenha na fogueira
to make a bad situation worse; to intensify a conflict or negative emotion
:
•
His comments only served to fan the flames of the argument.
Seus comentários só serviram para atiçar as chamas da discussão.
•
The media coverage helped to fan the flames of public anger.
A cobertura da mídia ajudou a atiçar as chamas da raiva pública.