flare up

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Word: Flare Up

Part of Speech: Verb

Basic Meaning: "Flare up" means to suddenly become more intense or stronger. This can refer to emotions, situations, or even physical conditions.

Usage Instructions:

• "Flare up" is often used in contexts where something that was calm or under control suddenly becomes intense or chaotic.
• You can use it in both emotional contexts (like anger) and physical contexts (like fires or health issues).

Examples:

1. Emotional Context:

   • "During the meeting, tempers flared up when the topic of budget cuts was mentioned."

2. Physical Context:

   • "The campfire flared up when we added more wood to it."

3. Health Context:

   • "Her allergies can flare up during the spring when the pollen is high."

Advanced Usage:

• "Flare up" can also be used in more complex sentences to describe ongoing situations that suddenly become worse.
  • Example: "After months of negotiations, the dispute flared up again, causing negotiations to break down."

Word Variants:

• Flare (noun): A sudden burst of light or flame.
  • Example: "The flare from the fireworks lit up the night sky."
• Flared (adjective): Spread out or widened.
  • Example: "He wore flared jeans that widened at the bottom."

Different Meanings:

• In a medical context, "flare up" can refer specifically to a sudden worsening of symptoms in diseases like arthritis or asthma.
  • Example: "Her asthma can flare up if she is exposed to cold air."

Synonyms:

• Erupt
• Intensify
• Burst
• Ignite
• Escalate

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Let off steam": To release pent-up energy or emotions, similar to how something may "flare up" when emotions are not expressed.

  • Example: "He went for a run to let off some steam after a long day at work."

• "Blow up": To suddenly become very angry or to explode, which can be used similarly to "flare up."

  • Example: "She blew up when she found out about the surprise party."

Summary:

"Flare up" is a versatile verb that can describe sudden intensity or worsening in various contexts, including emotions, health, and situations.

Academic

Verb

1. erupt or intensify suddenly
   • Unrest erupted in the country
   • Tempers flared at the meeting
   • The crowd irrupted into a burst of patriotism
2. ignite quickly and suddenly, especially after having died down
   • the fire flared up and died down once again

Synonyms

• erupt
• irrupt
• flare
• break open
• burst out