spur on

Idioms  

1. Goad or urge ahead, as in The thought of winning a Pulitzer Prize spurred the reporter on. This expression transfers using spurs to make a horse go faster to incentives of other kinds. [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was put on the injured list a day after he was forced to exit early against Arizona because of a bone spur on his left big toe.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2024

Going forward, the team hopes that its approach for assessing the vulnerability of multiple species can spur on additional conservation efforts.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2024

“It happens and you’re hoping that doesn’t spur on more, but James had a tough inning … and that made for a tougher inning,” Francona said.

From Washington Times • Mar. 31, 2023

The success at NIF will spur on the dozens of private companies which one day hope to build a commercial fusion reactor.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2022

Iorek said, “Below the first spur on the track, there is a bush with resinous wood. Bring as much of that as you can.”

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman