light the blue touch paper

light the (blue) touch paper

To do something that instigates or initiates some intense or widespread action or reaction. (Touch paper is a strip of paper treated with potassium nitrate that is used as a fuse for explosives.) Primarily heard in UK. Their goal late in the first half seemed to light the blue touch paper for the team—they've shown much more energy and aggression on the pitch since then. The proposed law has lit the touch paper for activists, who have been gathering people and resources to protest it en masse.
See also: light, paper, touch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

light the blue touch paper

or

light the touch paper

BRITISH
If someone lights the blue touch paper or lights the touch paper, they do or say something which causes people to react in an angry or violent way. This kind of remark is guaranteed to light the blue touch paper with some Labour politicians. Tension between them had been building up for weeks. All it took was Mason to light the touch paper and stand back. Note: The touch paper on a firework is a small piece of dark blue paper attached to one end. When it is lit, it burns slowly until it sets off the firework.
See also: blue, light, paper, touch
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • light the (blue) touch paper
  • light the fuse
  • mizzle
  • mizzle a wild card word for words beginning with
  • bloody hell
  • the thin edge of the wedge
  • thin edge of the wedge
  • thin edge of the wedge, the
  • come at me, bro
  • (do) (you) want to make something of it?
References in periodicals archive
You know on old fireworks it used to say "light the blue touch paper" to get it going.
Lisa Mathieson; Aberdeen's newest youth arts festival is back for its second year. Philippa Gerrard found out more about Light the Blue from its creative learning manager
Or a player who consistently fails to light the blue touch paper? It's a debate which has raged between Bluenoses ever since the winger's arrival from Brentford in the summer of 2017.
Blues' jury still split over where future lies for Jota..
Moors' Luke Maxwell tried to light the blue touch paper, swinging wide when a pocket of space opened up within 14 seconds of the restart.
Moors rue ref's change of heart after Adi 'goal' SOL' MOORS 0 SALFORD CITY 0
But the seasoned midfielder knows three points this afternoon would help light the blue touch paper and lay down a marker in the Gibson Cup race.
blues can lay down marker; COLERAINE V LINFIELD THE SHOWGROUNDS KICK-OFF 3PM; Captain Mulgrew eyes all three points at Showgrounds to close the gap on league leaders to a single point
IF Newcastle United want to light the blue touch paper early ahead of derby day, they should probably turn to Rafa Benitez.
Far from the best of pals, the rival managers who may clash again
It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going." Tonight: The Simpsons, Channel 4, 6pm.
spotlight on..
IT was inevitable that the sad events in Fukushima, Japan, would light the blue touch paper under the Wylfa B debate.
Safer design.. and no quake risk here; LETTERS
Representatives of public sector staff in our region reacted with anger to longawaited plans published yesterday, as national unions warned it could "light the blue touch paper" for a summer of strikes.
FURY OVER PLAN TO CUT PENSIONS
It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going." This remarkable flourish caps a book filled with subtle and not-so-subtle jabs at religious worldviews and religious faith.
Hawking's bottom line: we just don't have the answers
In the book, 'The Grand Design', published next week, Hawking concludes that science excludes the possibility of a deity and that it is unnecessary to "invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going".
Chief rabbi slams Stephen Hawking for excluding God's role in universe creation
Entrepreneurs in Coventry and Warwickshire are being given the opportunity to light the blue touch paper on a new business park.
New offices at Warwick Science Park hope to spark businesses into life
DAVID MOYES today claimed a thriving and united squad can help Jo light the blue touch paper on his Premier League career.
Blues can get Jo fired up-Moyes; EXCLUSIVE
It takes very little to light the blue touch paper when the Maroons of Queensland and the Blues of New South Wales lock horns and the chance of a series whitewash in favour of the Maroons is enough to ensure a typically full-blooded affair is in the offing.
Rugby League: Queensland looking to claim whitewash in style; Setanta Sports 1, 10.30am
That was enough to light the blue touch paper on Porter.
Bowling: I'll make it all fight on the night; SUPERBOWL LET BATTLE COMMENCE... LIPPY LINEBACKER'S VOW
All I can say is mention it in any gathering I have been part of in the last few years and you need to light the blue touch paper and retire.
The English do feel resentful