light a fire under (someone)

mainly American

to make someone work better or harder.

It's time you lit a fire under those guys or they'll never finish painting the house.

• wear something on sleeve
• wear something on your sleeve
• wear the pants
• wear the trousers
• wear thin
• wear to a frazzle
• wear your fingers to the bone
• wear your heart on sleeve
• wear your heart on your sleeve
• weasel out
• weasel out of
• weasel out of something
• weasel words
• weather the storm
• wedded to
• wedded to something
• wedding tackle
• weed out
• weed out someone
• weed out something
• week after week
• week by week
• weeks on end
• weep crocodile tears
• weigh a ton