light a fire under (someone)
idiom
US, informal
: to cause (someone) to move or work more quickly and effectively
I've never seen him work so hard. Someone must have lit a fire under him.
Examples of light a fire under (someone) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even still, that market should light a fire under Anthopoulos to answer one of the biggest questions about what Atlanta needs for the 2025 season.
—
Zach Pressnell, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
On the break between the second and third set, Keys wandered close enough to the courtside box for a chat and found her coach trying to light a fire under her.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
That might well light a fire under European demand for EVs and seriously embarrass European manufacturers.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
With North American trade in focus, this may actually give a respite to stocks with supply chains elsewhere and light a fire under them.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for light a fire under (someone) 
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Zach Pressnell, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
On the break between the second and third set, Keys wandered close enough to the courtside box for a chat and found her coach trying to light a fire under her.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
That might well light a fire under European demand for EVs and seriously embarrass European manufacturers.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
With North American trade in focus, this may actually give a respite to stocks with supply chains elsewhere and light a fire under them.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for light a fire under (someone)
Dictionary Entries Near light a fire under (someone)
Cite this Entry
“Light a fire under (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/light%20a%20fire%20under%20%28someone%29. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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