build a fire under (someone or something)
build a fire under (someone or something)
To motivate someone or something to take action. The deadline really built a fire under us—we never would have gotten all that work done otherwise. Something must have built a fire under Jenna—she has really started taking her schoolwork seriously.
See also: build, fire
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- start a fire under (someone or something)
- light a fire under
- light a fire under (someone or something)
- light a fire under someone
- keep after
- keep after (someone or something)
- put a bomb under
- put a bomb under (someone or something)
- put a bomb under something
- put a rocket under (someone or something)