the fat [hit] the fire

used to describe a situation that was already bad has suddenly become worse

The idiom "the fat hit the fire" is an expression used to describe a situation where a problem or conflict intensifies or becomes more serious. It conveys the idea that a previously manageable or contained issue has now escalated and reached a critical point. The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the imagery of fat dripping onto a fire, which causes a sudden burst of flames and increased intensity.

We need a leader who is strong and steady, someone who won't shrink from adversity when the fat hits the fire.
The company's financial troubles worsened when the CEO unexpectedly resigned.The fat hit the fire, and they had to make significant budget cuts to stay afloat.
Mary thought her argument with her friend was just a minor disagreement, but when she discovered her friend had been spreading rumors about her, the fat hit the fire, and their friendship was irreparably damaged.
The political scandal took a turn for the worse when incriminating evidence was leaked to the media.The fat hit the fire, and public outrage grew exponentially.
The team was already struggling, but when their star player got injured right before the championship game, the fat hit the fire, and their chances of winning diminished significantly.