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
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.
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Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 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
Hopefully, coming up short this season will light a fire under the team for the 2025 NFL Season.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Whether the intention was to actually put his name on the trade market or light a fire under the team doesn’t matter at this point.
—Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for light a fire under (someone) 
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Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 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
Hopefully, coming up short this season will light a fire under the team for the 2025 NFL Season.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Whether the intention was to actually put his name on the trade market or light a fire under the team doesn’t matter at this point.
—Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 7 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 30 Jan. 2025.
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