A3. as ~ as / attain / add fuel to the fire / as to

#1. as ~ as

: The phrase "as adjective as" is a common structure in English used to form similes, a type of figurative language that compares two different things to highlight a specific characteristic. 

 

ex) It's not as easy as it looks.

ex) It's not as easy as it sounds.

ex) It's not as bad as it looks.

ex) It's not as complicated as it looks.

ex) Trust me, it does not taste as good as it looks. 

ex) "As brave as a lion" means someone is very brave, comparing their bravery to that of a lion.
ex) "As cold as ice" suggests something is very cold, like ice.

 

#2. attain
: If you attain sth, you gain it or achieve it, often after a lot of effort.

 

ex) We need to identify the best ways of attaining our goals/objectives. 

ex) You need financial security in order to attain emotional well-being. 

ex) To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice every day. 

ex) In spite of all my efforts to master English, I still cannot attain native proficiency because English is always my second language. 
ex) Regular team meetings are crucial to attain alignment on project goals and deadlines.
ex) The company's primary goal this year is to attain a 20% increase in sales.
ex) Attaining a competitive edge in the market requires continuous research and development.
ex) Our marketing campaign aims to attain greater brand recognition among our target audience.
ex) The new training program is designed to help employees attain the skills necessary for advanced roles.

 

 

#3. add fuel to the fire

: do or say sth which makes a difficult situation worse, or makes sb even more angry.

 

ex) The decision to raise tariffs on imports will only add fuel to the fire.

ex) The discovery that the government was aware of the cover-up has really added fuel to the fire. 

ex) The President said he wouldn't add fuel to the fire by commenting without knowing all the facts. 
ex) The CEO's abrupt resignation added fuel to the fire, further destabilizing the company's already shaky stock prices.
ex) Ignoring customer complaints on social media only added fuel to the fire, leading to a larger backlash against the company.

ex) The sudden change in supplier contracts added fuel to the fire, compounding the existing supply chain issues.

 

 

#4. as to

: about, with respect to, concerning, in regard to

 

ex) I can't answer questions as to how much money Mr.Mayer is being paid.

ex) There's no decision as to when the work might start. 

ex) The declaration takes no sides as to which rights are more important, insisting on their universality, indivisibility, and interdependence. 

ex) I'm at a loss as to how to explain the error. 
ex) There is disagreement as to the causes of the fire. 
ex) I remained uncertain as to the value of his suggestions.

ex) The board requested further clarification as to the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.
ex) There is considerable debate as to the best strategy for entering the Asian market.
ex) The CEO gave an update as to the status of the merger negotiations during the meeting.
ex) Employees have expressed concerns as to how the new policy will affect their work schedules.
ex) The training session provided detailed information as to how to use the new software system.
ex) There were several questions as to the implications of the new tax laws on the company's finances.
ex) The marketing team is doing research as to customer preferences in different regions.
ex) There is still uncertainty as to when the new office building will be ready for occupancy.
ex) The consultant offered advice as to how to improve team productivity and morale.
ex) During the conference, there was a lively discussion as to the future trends in e-commerce.

In each of these examples, "as to" introduces a specific topic of discussion, inquiry, or consideration.