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
Initially, a Trump election could provide a short-term boost to stock prices in the immediate aftermath, as a corporate tax cut could once again light a fire under corporate share buybacks.
—
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
Conferences provide great potential for business professionals to light a fire under their careers.
—John Hall, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
That’s what happened Friday night as a nudge from Reeve helped light a fire under Collier during a key stretch of the second quarter as Minnesota overcame a slow start to down the Los Angeles Sparks 81-76 at Target Center.
—Frank Rajkowski, Twin Cities, 14 June 2024
Pitino drew criticism for his post-game tirade but has since claimed it was measured, intended to light a fire under his players.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2024
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Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
Conferences provide great potential for business professionals to light a fire under their careers.
—John Hall, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
That’s what happened Friday night as a nudge from Reeve helped light a fire under Collier during a key stretch of the second quarter as Minnesota overcame a slow start to down the Los Angeles Sparks 81-76 at Target Center.
—Frank Rajkowski, Twin Cities, 14 June 2024
Pitino drew criticism for his post-game tirade but has since claimed it was measured, intended to light a fire under his players.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for light a fire under (someone)
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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 22 Nov. 2024.
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