Word: Flare-up
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: A "flare-up" is a sudden and intense occurrence of something. It can refer to an outburst of emotions, a sudden increase in activity, or even a brief but strong event like heavy rain or lightning.
Usage Instructions:
"Flare-up" is often used to describe situations that start suddenly and can be quite intense, whether they are related to emotions, health issues, or weather.
You can use it when talking about arguments, health problems, or sudden weather changes.
Examples:
Emotional context: "After weeks of calm, there was a flare-up of anger between the two friends."
Health context: "The patient experienced a flare-up of their asthma during the cold weather."
Weather context: "The storm caused a flare-up of heavy rain, flooding the streets quickly."
Advanced Usage:
In medical contexts, "flare-up" can refer to a sudden worsening of symptoms in chronic conditions, such as arthritis or asthma.
In discussions about social issues, it can describe a sudden increase in tension or conflict, like a flare-up of violence in a community.
Word Variants:
Verb Form: "Flare" (as in "to flare up"), which means to suddenly become intense or more serious.
Adjective Form: "Flaring," which describes something that is expanding or becoming more intense.
Different Meanings:
Weather: A sudden increase in heavy rain or thunder.
Emotional: A brief outburst of anger or frustration.
Medical: A sudden worsening of a chronic condition.
Synonyms:
Idioms:
There aren’t many common idioms specifically using "flare-up," but you might hear phrases like: - "Tempers flared," which means people became very angry suddenly.
Phrasal Verbs:
While "flare-up" is not typically used in phrasal verb constructions, you might see "flare up" as a verb: - Example: "The argument flared up again after a few days of silence."
Summary:
A "flare-up" is a sudden and intense event. It can relate to emotions, health issues, or weather.