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flare up

B1 neutral intransitive
In simple words

To suddenly get worse or more intense — said of fires, anger, illness, or conflict.

Literal meaning: A flare is a sudden burst of flame or light — 'up' reinforces the idea of something shooting upward and intensifying.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

For a fire to suddenly burn more intensely.

"The campfire flared up when the wind picked up."

2 B1 idiomatic neutral

For a medical condition or symptom to suddenly become worse after a period of calm.

"Her arthritis flares up in cold, damp weather."

3 B1 idiomatic neutral

For anger, conflict, or tension to suddenly intensify or re-emerge.

"Violence flared up in the capital after the election results were announced."

"Tensions flared up again along the border."

— BBC News, international reporting, widely used phrasing
Usage notes

Extremely versatile. Common in medical contexts (conditions 'flaring up'), emotional contexts (tempers flaring), and news contexts (violence or conflict flaring up). The noun 'flare-up' is also very common. Used in both British and American English.

Commonly used with

temper conflict inflammation violence condition tension fire

Forms

Base
flare up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
flares up
he/she/it
Past simple
flared up
yesterday
Past participle
flared up
have + pp
-ing form
flaring up
continuous

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Synonyms

worsen intensify erupt recur break out again blow up

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