English Explanatory Dictionary

hold someone's feet to the fire

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To maintain personal, social, political, or legal pressure on someone in order to induce them to comply with one's desires; to hold someone accountable for their actions.

Pronunciation

en-au-hold someone's feet to the fire.ogg

Word forms

hold someone's feet to the fire holds someone's feet to the fire holding someone's feet to the fire held someone's feet to the fire

Etymology

From the implied threat of physical harm by burning.

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