fuel to the fire; adding fuel to the fire
Idiomatic expression meaning something that makes a bad situation worse, equivalent to 'adding fuel to the fire'. Often used in the fuller form 火に油を注ぐ.
See also: 火に油を注ぐ
His remark added fuel to the fire.
That policy ended up adding fuel to the fire.
Literally 'oil to fire'. A metaphorical expression based on the idea that adding oil makes a fire burn more intensely.