Work & careers
light a fire under someone
motivate someone strongly
To light a fire under someone means to make them act quickly and seriously.
Hear it in real life
How did you get everyone to respond so quickly?
I lit a fire under them by explaining the risks.
The deadline really lit a fire under me, so I finished the report last night.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: My manager lit a fire on me.
Say: My manager lit a fire under me.
The fixed expression uses "under," not "on."
Build it
How it fits in a sentence.
light a fire under me; lit a fire under them; lighting a fire under someone
Your turn: say it out loud
The deadline really lit a fire under me, so I finished the report last night.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
light a fire under someone
motivate someone strongly
“The deadline really lit a fire under me, so I finished the report last night.”
heytardy
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