turn up the heat

present singular third person turns up the heat · participle present turning up the heat · participle past turned up the heat · past turned up the heat · alternative UK turn on the heat

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see turn up, heat.
2. idiomaticTo increase the intensity of activity or discomfort.

   The discovery of a third batch of unsecured documents in a third location is turning up the heat on the White House.

   1 more example

   For Firefighter Joseph Ceravolo, President Obama turned up the heat, so to speak, even before he sat down to an early lunch on Thursday.

   2011 May 5, James Barron, Colin Moynihan, “Obama Visits Firehouse in Midtown Manhattan”, in New York Times, retrieved 24 Nov 2011