light a fire under

Related to light a fire under: alight

light a fire under (someone or something)

To motivate someone or something to take action. The deadline really lit a fire under us—we never would have gotten all that work done otherwise. Something must have lit a fire under Jenna—she has really started taking her schoolwork seriously.

light a fire under

Also, build a fire under. Urge or goad to action, as in If we don't light a fire under that committee, they'll never do any work. This hyperbolic colloquialism uses light in the sense of "ignite," a usage dating from the mid-1100s.

light a fire under

To urge or move to action.

词组	light a fire under
释义	light a fire under Related to light a fire under: alight light a fire under (someone or something) To motivate someone or something to take action. The deadline really lit a fire under us—we never would have gotten all that work done otherwise. Something must have lit a fire under Jenna—she has really started taking her schoolwork seriously. See also: fire, light Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. light a fire under Also, build a fire under. Urge or goad to action, as in If we don't light a fire under that committee, they'll never do any work. This hyperbolic colloquialism uses light in the sense of "ignite," a usage dating from the mid-1100s. See also: fire, light The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. light a fire under To urge or move to action. See also: fire, light American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. See also: light a fire under (someone or something) light a fire under someone start a fire under (someone or something) build a fire under (someone or something) a fire under (someone or something) draw a bead on (someone), to keep after keep after (someone or something) put a bomb under put a bomb under (someone or something)
随便看	come short come short of come short of (something) come/spring to mind come stà comes with the territory come the come the acid come the old soldier come the raw prawn come the (something) come thick and fast come through come through (something) with flying colors come to come to a bad end come to a bad/sticky end come to a boil come to a climax come to a close come to a conclusion come to a dead end come to a full stop come to a grinding/screeching halt come to a halt