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hold someone's feet to the fire

To maintain personal, social, political, or legal pressure on someone in order to induce him or her to comply with one's desires; to hold someone accountable for his or her actions.

Etymology:

  • From the implied threat of physical harm by burning.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to hold someone's feet to the fire

hold one's liquorhold the linehold the phonehold swayhold outhold one's waterhold somebody's handhold one's peacehold the forthold one's ownhold the purse stringshold onto your hathold that thought!hold that thought a moment

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    "hold someone's feet to the fire." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/hold-someones-feet-to-the-fire_4508>.

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