light the touch-paper

verb

To stir people up; to cause anger or excitement.

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Meanings

verblight the touch-paper (third-person singular simple present lights the touch-paper, present participle lighting the touch-paper, simple past and past participle lit the touch-paper or lighted the touch-paper)

present singular third person lights the touch-paper · participle present lighting the touch-paper · participle past lit the touch-paper · past lit the touch-paper · participle past lighted the touch-paper · past lighted the touch-paper · alternative light the blue touchpaper

  1. figurativelyTo stir people up; to cause anger or excitement.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
light the blue touchpaper
Cite this entry
APA

light the touch-paper. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20the%20touch-paper

MLA

“light the touch-paper.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20the%20touch-paper. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “light the touch-paper,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20the%20touch-paper.

Source: light the touch-paper on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.