General
light a fire under
What does light a fire under mean?
To motivate or push someone to get moving on a task.
"We need to light a fire under legal to get this signed."
Origin
Idiom of literally putting heat under someone.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'light a fire under' someone mean?
To pressure or motivate a person to act quickly and stop dragging their feet.
Where does 'light a fire under' come from?
It's a literal metaphor of putting heat beneath someone to get them moving.
How is 'light a fire under' used at work?
To describe applying urgency to a slow team or person, e.g. 'we need to light a fire under legal to get this signed'.
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