holding someone's feet to the fire
Pressuring for answers
Holding someone's feet to the fire is pressuring them to fulfill a commitment or answer for their actions.
The image suggests torture—keeping someone uncomfortable until they comply.
The committee held the CEO's feet to the fire over the missing funds.
Often used in contexts of accountability, especially political or corporate.
- answerabilityObligation to explain oneself
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- insistenceUnyielding demand for something
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
duty · taking to task · calling out · sanction · culpability · reprimand · stress · transparency · hot seat · on the spot · under the microscope · deterrence · truth-seeking · enforcement · liability · whistleblowing · grilling · demand
accountability and pressure
holding someone's feet to the fireletting off easy
looking the other way · turning a blind eye · letting slide · excusing · overlooking