incredible danger; giving a sword to a madman
Proverb meaning that giving a dangerous tool to an unstable person invites disaster. Literally 'a sword to a madman'. The term 気違い is now considered discriminatory, so the expression is sensitive and often avoided in modern usage.
Giving him that kind of authority is like handing a sword to a madman.
Letting her go alone in this situation is incredibly dangerous.
Both describe making a bad situation worse, but 気違いに刃物 specifically emphasizes giving a dangerous tool to an unstable person, while 火に油を注ぐ is about adding fuel to any kind of conflict or problem.
Standard kanji spelling for the proverb. Note: 気違い is now considered a discriminatory term; the expression is often avoided or replaced.
Kana spelling, sometimes used to soften the impact of the kanji form.
Variant kanji spelling using 狂い instead of 違い; less common.
A traditional Japanese proverb. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose from the obvious danger of arming someone who is mentally unstable. The phrase uses the now-discriminatory term 気違い (madman), which has led to its declining use.