hold feet to the fire

hold (one's) feet to the fire

To put pressure on one to do, say, or consent to something. The journalist has spent the last year holding the prime minister's feet to the fire in relation to her campaign promises about wealth distribution. People have been holding her feet to the fire to take the images down from the website.
See also: feet, fire, hold
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hold (someone's) feet to the fire

To pressure (someone) to consent to or undertake something.
See also: feet, fire, hold
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • hold (one's) feet to the fire
  • hold someone's feet to the fire
  • in relation to
  • in relation to (something)
  • relative
  • relative to
  • relative to (something)
  • you can bet the farm that (something will happen or is the case)
  • ways and means
  • ladle up
References in periodicals archive
"So this process is still dragging out in terms of efforts to review certain aspects of the 2010 polling, parliamentary electoral process, and I think the United Nations has been the sort of focal point of the international community's efforts to hold feet to the fire and ensure that the processes are not manipulated for the political interests of any actor," Rice told lawmakers.
Ban, Clinton discuss Afghanistan
"In some small way it does hold feet to the fire," Wharton said.
La. colleges may lose some degree programs