stoke
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stoke the fires (of something)
To provoke, intensify, or contribute to an already volatile or impassioned situation. The last thing we want is to stoke the fires with some ill-conceived response to the tragedy. The CEO's callous remarks only served to stoke the fires of displeasure with the company.
stoke the flames (of something)
To provoke, intensify, or contribute to an already volatile or impassioned situation. The last thing we want is to stoke the flames with some ill-conceived response to the tragedy. The CEO's callous remarks only served to stoke the flames of displeasure with the company.
stoke up
1. Literally, to make a fire burn hotter or brighter by stirring it or adding fuel. A noun or pronoun can be used between "stoke" and "up." It's my job to stoke the fire up throughout the night so the camp remains warm. You'll need to stoke up the furnace a bit more if we want it hot enough to melt this iron.
2. To incite or intensify negative emotions or reactions to something. The candidate has been stoking up controversy throughout the campaign, discrediting and slandering his opponents with outrageous and unprovable claims. The police chief stoked the fury of the protestors up when he announced that the officers involved in the shooting would not be forced to resign.
3. To start and warm up some piece of machinery, especially a car motor or engine, in preparation for its use. The official gave the signal and the drivers stoked up their engines. Make sure you leave the car idling while we rob the place—I don't want to wait for you to stoke the thing up while we're trying to make a getaway.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
stoke something up
1. to poke or add fuel to a fire to make it burn hotter. Grandpa had to go down each winter morning to stoke the fire up. He stoked up the furnace every morning during the winter.
2. Sl. to start something, such as an engine. stoke this old car up so we can leave. stoke up your motorcycle and let's get going.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
stoke up
v.
1. To feed or stir some fire or furnace: Lee had to go down to the basement several times to stoke up the furnace. The fire started going out, so I stoked it up with some logs.
2. To make some emotion or conflict more violent; intensify something: The accusations stoked up the tension that already existed between the groups. The argument was winding down when your insensitive comments stoked it up again.
3. To eat heartily: The boxer stoked up before the fight in order to maintain his strength. The runner stoked up on carbohydrates the day before the race.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
stoke something up
tv. to start something, such as an engine. Stoke up your motorcycle and let’s get going.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.