build a fire under

A form of light a fire under — To motivate or encourage (someone) to start sooner or move faster.

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Meanings

verbbuild a fire under (third-person singular simple present builds a fire under, present participle building a fire under, simple past and past participle built a fire under)

present singular third person builds a fire under · participle present building a fire under · participle past built a fire under · past built a fire under

  1. alternativeAlternative form of light a fire under.
Cite this entry
APA

build a fire under. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/build%20a%20fire%20under

MLA

“build a fire under.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/build%20a%20fire%20under. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “build a fire under,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/build%20a%20fire%20under.

Source: build a fire under on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.