lighter fluid

noun

1. a combustible fluid used in cigarette, cigar, and pipe lighters.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lighter fluid¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

She doesn’t find much if anything to like about the field, which she sees as a hive of people aiming to take advantage of the innocent and unwary — the facetious subtitle of her Web3 website calls it “definitely not an enormous grift that’s pouring lighter fluid on our already smoldering planet.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump’s 2016 victory was the lighter fluid that accelerated a news bonfire, driving ratings and subscription revenue.

From Los Angeles Times

But it’s the one-two punch of mentioning comedy’s unmentionable performer and the cancel culture boogeyman that generated headlines and tossed lighter fluid and a flipped Zippo onto the social media discourse.

From Salon

In the video, Bushnell props up his phone before stepping into the frame again and dousing himself in what appears to be gasoline or lighter fluid.

From Salon

There have got to be five versions of that scene, easily … One involved lighter fluid and a cigarette lighter … I called it an ‘a— arsonist.’

From Los Angeles Times