Hold feet to the fire

Meaning

Pressure someone to deliver or stay honest.

Usage

Used when insisting on accountability.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Refers to the practice of pressing someone's feet to a fire as a form of torture to gain compliance.

Used in American political writing since the nineteenth century.