fan the flames
Speech parts
1. fan the flames - Verb
2. fan the flames - Phrase
Meaning
fan the flames (third-person singular simple present fans the flames, present participle fanning the flames, simple past and past participle fanned the flames)
(idiomatic) To intensify or worsen an already difficult situation.
Synonyms
Examples
It is not surprising, then, that in the decade since Oslo began, Arafat used all the resources placed at his disposal to fan the flames of hatred against Israel.