light a fire
Kindle some flames
To light a fire is to ignite combustible material—wood, paper, kindling—to produce flames for warmth, cooking, or atmosphere: He lit a fire in the woodstove.
Figuratively, to light a fire under someone is to motivate them urgently, suggesting they need heat applied to get moving: The deadline lit a fire under the whole team.
- igniteStart burning something
- kindleStart a blaze
- sparkTiny fiery particle
- flameBurning gas made visible
- strike a matchIgnite by friction
match · tinder · kindling · logs · hearth · campfire · camp out · gather round · bonfire · warmth · blaze · combustion · fan the flames · arson · torch · flint · strike · crackle
- fire idiomsfan the flames, spread like wildfire, go up in flames, go up in smoke, up in smoke
- heat and fireignite, burn, flame, blaze, combust
- energy idiomsfull of beans, running on empty, second wind, burn out, pumped up
- hurry uphurry, hurry up, rush, hustle, move it
light a fireextinguish
End combustion forcibly
put out a fire · douse · smother · quench · snuff out
light a firecool down
Reduce temperature or intensity
chill · freeze · refrigerate
light a firediscourage
Diminish someone's confidence
deflate · demotivate · dishearten · demoralize · pour cold water on
light, fire, lights, lighted, lit, lighting, lighter, lightest, lighten