hold someone’s feet to the fire —(also: keep someone’s feet to the fire) pressure a person to undertake smth. (to make good on a promise, etc.):
- I’m not going to punch him in the nose, but can’t I hold his feet to the fire in a polite and gentle way?
light a fire under someone—(also: build a fire under someone) do smth. to motivate or stimulate a person:
- I want to light a fire under them and push them to places they never thought they could go. I want to help them reach their full potential.