start a fire under (someone or something)
start a fire under (someone or something)
To motivate someone or something to take action. The deadline really started a fire under us—we never would have gotten all that work done otherwise. It's a shame that he got fired, but it might just start a fire under him to look for a job he really loves.
See also: fire, start
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- build 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)