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Definition

To motivate or encourage (someone) to start sooner or move faster.

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Origins

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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In Context

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

l

let's be having you

Expression to encourage someone to hurry up and move somewhere.

 u

under one's thumb

Completely controlled by someone; at someone's command.

 h

hold someone's feet to the fire

To maintain personal, social, political, or legal pressure on someone …

 m

move someone to tears

to cause to cry

 g

get underneath someone's skin

Alternative form of get under someone's skin.

 m

move furniture

To engage someone physically; to brawl.
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