火上澆油 huǒ shàng jiāo yóu

make things worse; stir up anger

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to pour oil on the fire (idiom); fig. to aggravate a situation
  2. 2. to enrage people and make matters worse

Characters

Character Meaning
火 huǒ HSK 2
fire; hot (popular); fiery or flaming
上 shàng HSK 1
to go up; on top; above
澆 jiāo
to water; to pour liquid; to cast (molten metal)
油 yóu HSK 4
oil; petroleum; oily