Signification
Making a bad situation even worse.
Contexte culturel
In Tamil households, oil is a precious commodity used for cooking and lighting lamps (deepam). Using it to 'worsen a fire' is a powerful metaphor for waste and destruction of harmony. The idiom is equally common in Sri Lanka, often used in political discourse regarding ethnic tensions or economic crises. In these diaspora communities, the idiom is used to maintain social cohesion, often heard in community mediation contexts. On platforms like Twitter (X) or Facebook, this idiom is frequently used in 'meme' format to describe 'toxic' comments or controversial celebrity statements.
Spoken Variation
In casual talk, use 'oothurathu' instead of 'ootruvathu' to sound more natural.
Don't use for 'starting'
Remember, the fire must already be burning. Don't use this for the very first mistake in a situation.
Signification
Making a bad situation even worse.
Spoken Variation
In casual talk, use 'oothurathu' instead of 'ootruvathu' to sound more natural.
Don't use for 'starting'
Remember, the fire must already be burning. Don't use this for the very first mistake in a situation.
Simile usage
Adding 'pola' (like) or 'maari' (spoken like) makes it easier to slot into any sentence.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to complete the idiom.
எரியும் நெருப்பில் ______ ஊற்றுவது.
Oil (எண்ணெய்) is the substance used in this idiom to represent making a fire bigger.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
Situation: A team is already late for a deadline. The manager gives them a new, unrelated task.
The manager is making a bad situation (being late) even worse (more work).
Fill in the missing verb in its correct form.
அவன் கோபமாக இருக்கும்போது பழைய விஷயங்களைப் பேசி எரியும் நெருப்பில் எண்ணெய் ______.
The context implies a warning, so 'Don't pour' (ஊற்றாதே) is the correct choice.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ஏற்கனவே சண்டை பெருசா போயிட்டு இருக்கு. B: ஆமா, இப்போ இவன் வந்தா _________________.
The arrival of another person in a big fight is likely to make it worse.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesஎரியும் நெருப்பில் ______ ஊற்றுவது.
Oil (எண்ணெய்) is the substance used in this idiom to represent making a fire bigger.
Situation: A team is already late for a deadline. The manager gives them a new, unrelated task.
The manager is making a bad situation (being late) even worse (more work).
அவன் கோபமாக இருக்கும்போது பழைய விஷயங்களைப் பேசி எரியும் நெருப்பில் எண்ணெய் ______.
The context implies a warning, so 'Don't pour' (ஊற்றாதே) is the correct choice.
A: ஏற்கனவே சண்டை பெருசா போயிட்டு இருக்கு. B: ஆமா, இப்போ இவன் வந்தா _________________.
The arrival of another person in a big fight is likely to make it worse.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsIt's not rude, but it is critical. You are accusing someone of making a situation worse.
In modern slang, some people say 'petrol oothurathu', but 'ennai' is the standard idiom.
There isn't a single idiom, but 'neruppai anaippathu' (putting out the fire) is the literal opposite.
Yes, especially in news and business analysis to describe bad decisions.
Yes, but in this context, it implies any flammable liquid that feeds a fire.
Expressions liées
வெந்த புண்ணில் வேல் பாய்ச்சுவது
similarPiercing a spear into a burnt wound.
தூண்டிவிடுவது
specialized formTo poke or instigate.
சண்டையை மூட்டுவது
builds onTo start a fight.
அமைதிப்படுத்துவது
contrastTo pacify or calm down.
