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View synonyms for flare-up

flare-up

noun

  1. a sudden burst of fire or light
  2. informal.
    a sudden burst of emotion or violence
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. to burst suddenly into fire or light
  2. informal.
    to burst into anger
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Idioms and Phrases

Suddenly become angry, as in She flared up at the slightest provocation . This metaphoric expression, dating from the mid-1800s, transfers a sudden burst of flame to sudden rage.
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Example Sentences

The principle is sound, but the effect is small enough that another source entirely could be responsible for the extra flare-up.

A major flare-up in the fighting is another factor that could torpedo the talks.

She said she first learned of the current flare up by seeing tweets from the IDF spokesperson's Twitter account.

I asked him what he thought of the latest flare-up between Israel and Hamas.

The exchanges are only the latest flare-up in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which grabbed power in Gaza in 2007.

For a word, she would flare up into a sudden anger, nor try as he would, could he divine what action of his would displease her.

As the light gleamed out Lieutenant Hal turned its broad flare up the river.

The light of the lantern began to splutter and flare up, showing that the oil in the cup was running low.

You don't want to take advantage of her being sick and weakly now—now, you no need to flare up!

Now, for some little flare-up you come racing here to use Elnora as a tool to spite the other girl.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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