What happens when someone decides to throw something at the fan?
Nothing good should happen, of course. Better be prepared for heated arguments and long, pointless discussions.
Although this expression migrated to the Russian language from English ("When the shit hits the fan!"), it took on a life of its own here. Initially, it was used to describe a situation where someone intentionally provokes a scandal or spreads rumors. In the local context, it became especially popular among internet bloggers. Having lost the unpleasant noun, the expression took on a new form — “набросить на вентилятор” (“nabrosit' na ventilyator” or "to throw something at the fan.")
This is how people began to describe a post or comment that had sparked a heated debate. Over time, the expression became so ingrained in Russian colloquial speech that it was enough to avoid using it in full and simply say, "Someone threw something at the fan," to convey to others that a dispute was brewing somewhere, in which there would be no winners, only losers.
Interestingly, the Russian language has its own expression, similar in meaning: “Подлить масла в огонь” (“Podlit masla v ogon” or "To pour oil on the fire"). This is used when, through intentional or unintentional actions, a conflict is provoked to a new escalation.
