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

The Dodgers placed starting pitcher Clayton Kershawon the injured list Saturday, a night after he left a start against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning with 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

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

“We felt a little relief that it was a bone spur on the tip of his elbow that was making him feel uncomfortable,” Rizzo said.

From Washington Times • Mar. 13, 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