start a fire under (someone)

To motivate someone or something to take action. The deadline really started a fire under us—we never would have gotten all that work done otherwise. It's a shame that he got fired, but it might just start a fire under him to look for a job he really loves.

See also: fire, start

See also:

build a fire under (someone)
light a fire under
light a fire under (someone)
light a fire under someone
keep after
keep after (someone or something)
put a bomb under
put a bomb under (someone or something)
put a bomb under something
put a rocket under (someone or something)

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