light a fire under
To motivate or encourage (someone) to start sooner or move faster.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The deadline is close, so I need to light a fire under my team.”
“I need to light a fire under myself to finish this project today.”
“Our manager lit a fire under the sales department after profits dropped last quarter.”
“You should light a fire under the landlord because the leaking pipe in the kitchen is getting worse every day.”
“The threat of a heavy fine usually lights a fire under people to pay their taxes on time.”
“The coach's harsh words at halftime finally lit a fire under the players, who returned to the field with a desperate energy that turned the game around.”
The idiom refers to the practice of compelling chimney sweeps to complete their ascent. When a sweep, typically a young boy, hesitated or became stuck within a narrow flue, a fire was lit in the hearth below to provide the necessary motivation to reach the top. The rising heat and smoke ensured that remaining stationary was no longer a viable option, effectively aligning the sweep’s professional interests with his immediate survival.
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add fuel to the fire
To worsen a conflict between people; to inflame an already tense situation.
- 02
amber light
Hesitance to proceed; limited approval or permission to proceed.
- 03
ball of fire
A person who is especially active, ambitious, hard-working, or high-achieving.
- 04
bright lights
The glamour and glitz of a place, especially a big city.
- 05
bring to light
To expose, disclose or reveal something that was hidden or unknown.
- 06
catch fire
To become engulfed in flames, to combust.
- 07
come to light
To become known; to be revealed.
- 08
draw fire
To create a distraction that allows one's friends, co-workers, or other associates to gain an advantage over the distracted party.
Last updated August 10, 2026