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light a fire under

To start sooner or move faster.

Etymology:

  • Referring to a time when, if chimney sweeps were afraid to ascend a chimney, the fire would be lit under them in order to motivate them to climb to the top.
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“

Let me see if I can light a fire under the waiter to get our order sooner.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Translation

Find a translation for the light a fire under phrase in other languages:

accendere un fuoco sotto

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to light a fire under

light at the end of the tunnelknock underlight outlight middleweightlight paintingliar liar pants on firelet there be lightlight on one's feetleading lightlight bucketlight paintinglight intoKeep Something under Your Hatlight on one's feet

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