spur on
To push or encourage someone so they work harder or keep going
Meanings
To encourage a person to try harder, work faster, or continue with greater effort
"The crowd's cheering spurred the runners on in the final lap of the race."
"The taunts of her classmates only spurred her on to greater achievements."
— The Guardian, general usage example
If something spurs someone on, it acts as the cause or stimulus that motivates them to take action
"His early failure in business spurred him on to study harder and eventually succeed."
"Criticism only spurred me on."
— A common sentiment attributed to various athletes and public figures in interviews
Comes from the image of using spurs on a horse to make it move faster. Used figuratively for people and can be used reflexively ('spur oneself on'). Often used in sports, business, and motivational contexts.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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