Bedeutung
Making a bad situation worse.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Tamil culture, 'oil' (ennai) is associated with both light (lamps) and heat. While lighting a lamp is auspicious, oil in a fire is a symbol of chaos. This reflects the duality of human speech—it can enlighten or destroy. In Sri Lankan Tamil dialects, the word 'ennai' is sometimes replaced with 'nei' (ghee) in this idiom to emphasize the intensity of the escalation, as ghee is highly flammable and valued. In modern Tamil-speaking corporate environments (like Chennai's IT corridor), this idiom is frequently used in English-Tamil code-switching to describe 'bad timing' for requests. This idiom is a staple in dramatic movie dialogues, often used by a 'mediator' character (like a grandmother or a wise friend) to stop a hero and villain from escalating their conflict.
Use with 'Pola'
Always add 'pola' (like) at the end if you are describing an action. It makes the idiom sound more natural.
Negative Only
Never use this for a positive situation. It will confuse native speakers.
Bedeutung
Making a bad situation worse.
Use with 'Pola'
Always add 'pola' (like) at the end if you are describing an action. It makes the idiom sound more natural.
Negative Only
Never use this for a positive situation. It will confuse native speakers.
Spoken Variation
Use 'Eriyira' instead of 'Eriyum' in casual chats to sound like a local.
Body Language
When saying this, people often shake their head or use a 'stop' gesture with their hand.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word in the idiom.
அவர்கள் சண்டையிடும்போது நீ பேசியது எரியும் நெருப்பில் ______ ஊற்றுவது போல் இருந்தது.
The idiom specifically uses 'oil' to represent making the fire (anger) grow.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'எரியும் நெருப்பில் எண்ணெய் ஊற்றுவது'?
Which of these is the correct usage?
This action aggravates an existing conflict, which is the core meaning of the idiom.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: Your boss is already shouting at your team for a mistake. Your colleague wants to ask for a long break right now.
Asking for a break while the boss is angry will only make him angrier.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ரவி ஏற்கனவே சோகமாக இருக்கிறான். B: ஆமாம், இப்போது அவனிடம் பணத்தைக் கேட்காதே. அது _________________.
Asking for money from someone already in distress will worsen their mood.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenஅவர்கள் சண்டையிடும்போது நீ பேசியது எரியும் நெருப்பில் ______ ஊற்றுவது போல் இருந்தது.
The idiom specifically uses 'oil' to represent making the fire (anger) grow.
Which of these is the correct usage?
This action aggravates an existing conflict, which is the core meaning of the idiom.
Situation: Your boss is already shouting at your team for a mistake. Your colleague wants to ask for a long break right now.
Asking for a break while the boss is angry will only make him angrier.
A: ரவி ஏற்கனவே சோகமாக இருக்கிறான். B: ஆமாம், இப்போது அவனிடம் பணத்தைக் கேட்காதே. அது _________________.
Asking for money from someone already in distress will worsen their mood.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's not rude, but it is a direct criticism of someone's behavior. Use it with friends or family, but be careful with superiors.
Yes, 'nei' (ghee) is sometimes used to mean making it even more explosive, but 'ennai' is the standard.
There isn't a single direct idiom, but 'neruppai anaipathu' (extinguishing the fire) is the literal opposite.
Yes, but it would be a literal warning, not an idiom. The context will make it clear.
Very often! Especially during protests, strikes, or political scandals.
Yes, 'eriyum' (burning) is essential because you can't aggravate a fire that isn't there.
No, that's a different concept related to cooling down or anointing. Stick to 'fire'.
Yes, it is used all over Tamil Nadu and by the Tamil diaspora worldwide.
Eriyum neruppil ennai oothathey! (எரியும் நெருப்பில் எண்ணெய் ஊற்றாதே!)
Only if you are describing a past conflict you managed to solve without 'adding fuel to the fire'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
வெந்த புண்ணில் வேல் பாய்ச்சுவது
similarStabbing a spear into a burnt wound.
தூங்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் புலியை எழுப்புவது
similarWaking up a sleeping tiger.
நெருப்பில்லாமல் புகையாது
relatedThere is no smoke without fire.
ஆறப்போடுவது
contrastTo let something cool down.
