flare up
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
phr.v.to suddenly burn more brightly or strongly.
phr.v.to burst into sudden, intense flame or light after a period of lower activity.
Simple“The campfire flared up when he threw a handful of dry leaves onto the embers.”
In context“The fire flared up unexpectedly as the wind shifted, forcing the emergency crews to retreat several yards for safety.”
UsageIntransitive; does not take a direct object.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
phr.v.to suddenly become worse after being better for a while.
phr.v.to recur or intensify suddenly, typically used in a medical context for chronic conditions.
Simple“Her skin allergy tends to flare up whenever she is under a lot of stress.”
In context“Patients often report that their joint pain flares up during periods of cold, damp weather or following strenuous physical activity.”
UsageIntransitive; the subject is usually the symptom or the condition.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
phr.v.to suddenly become very angry or for a conflict to start again.
phr.v.to erupt into sudden anger, violence, or social unrest.
Simple“Tempers flared up during the meeting when the manager mentioned the new budget cuts.”
In context“Long-standing tensions between the two rival factions flared up again following the controversial announcement at the border.”
UsageIntransitive; often used with 'tempers' as the subject.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a sudden period of increased activity, anger, or illness.
n.a sudden outburst or recurrence of a condition, emotion, or conflict.
Simple“The doctor said the flare-up was caused by a change in his diet.”
In context“The recent flare-up in regional violence has prompted international observers to call for an immediate ceasefire.”
Teacher's tipNote the hyphenation in the noun form 'flare-up', which distinguishes it from the phrasal verb.
use the image of a fire suddenly getting bigger to help students remember the meaning for abstract things like anger or skin rashes.