build a fire under(someone); The teacher built afire under the students, and they really started working. You had better light a fire under your staff. Either that or we will lay off some of them. Также употребляются глаголы "light" и "start". VLZ_58)
give pause(не просто заставить задуматься о возможных действиях, а заставить задуматься об их ***целесообразности***, о том, имеет ли смысл предпринимать эти действия ART Vancouver)
put the kibosh on(Your friends will put the kibosh on any bragging you do about your brand new flat screen TV – especially when you have yet to pay them back for stuff. VLZ_58)
force sb.'s hand(to make someone do something they do not want to do, or to make them do something sooner than they had intended (Cambridge Dictionary): The Liberal Leader did see racism and intolerance among his party's election candidates but failed to intervene until his hand was forced.ART Vancouver)