Cliche: Origin behind Throw gas (or gasoline) on fire?

Question

Does anyone know? Please tell me...i have been searching forever nd and i alrdy went to three bookstores...the sooner the better...

Answer 1

david  bowie had  a hit  with "putting  out fire  with  gasoline"

but adding fuel  to  the  fire  is a metaphor  as  first  answerer said for making  a bad situation  worse

Answer 2

Many sayings have interesting and historical roots.  This one is so ordinary and obvious  that anyone may have thought of it at any time.

The way of saying "Making a bad situation worse"  was, before the advent of gasoline, "Adding fuel to the fire."

Answer 3

the saying started out as adding fuel to the fire, which could have started any time in the past