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Light a fire under

verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To motivate or encourage (someone) to start sooner or move faster. idiomatic, transitive

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

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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