Stoking up a fire involves physical interaction, not just adding fuel.

Physical action

Stoke up often suggests an urgent need to enhance a fire, especially due to cold.

Implies urgency

Stoke up means the fire needs manual help to burn well, as opposed to automatic fuel systems.

Eating as preparation for an activity, implying that the activity requires lots of energy.

Stoke up here is about consuming enough energy for high exertion, much like fueling a fire.

Stoke up can refer to amplifying emotions, not just something tangible like fire.

Used to indicate that an action or event made an existing situation more intense or serious.