This question asks for the correct meaning of the idiom "Add fuel to the fire." Idioms are phrases where the meaning is not obvious from the individual words. The phrase "add fuel to the fire" uses a powerful metaphor to describe an action that intensifies an already existing negative situation or conflict.
When you add fuel to a literal fire, you make it burn hotter and bigger. Metaphorically, doing so means you are doing something that makes a bad situation, an argument, or a problem even worse or more intense. It implies exacerbating a conflict or making someone angrier.
Therefore, the correct meaning is B: Worsen a problem. Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:
- A: Calm a situation is the exact opposite of what the idiom means.
- C: Start cooking and D: Light a fire are literal interpretations of the words, not the figurative meaning of the idiom.
Understanding idioms requires recognizing their figurative sense, which in this case, points to escalating a negative circumstance.