light the touch-paper

English

Alternative forms

• light the blue touchpaper

Verb

light the touch-paper (third-person singular simple present lights the touch-paper, present participle lighting the touch-paper, simple past and past participle lit the touch-paper or lighted the touch-paper)

1. (figuratively) To stir people up; to cause anger or excitement.

References

• “light the touch-paper”, in Collins English Dictionary.