# light the blue touchpaper

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/light-the-blue-touchpaper
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Synonym of light the touch-paper.

## Examples

- His angry comment lit the blue touchpaper for a huge argument.
- By questioning the manager's authority in front of the team, she lit the blue touchpaper for a major office conflict.
- The politician's inflammatory speech lit the blue touchpaper, igniting a wave of public protests that lasted for several weeks across the country.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.