"Build a fire under" is a commonly used phrase to describe the act of motivating or urging someone to take action towards a specific goal. However, there are several antonyms for this phrase that convey a different meaning. One such antonym is "dampen the fire," which implies extinguishing the passion or drive of an individual towards a task. Another antonym could be "quench the fire," which suggests putting an end to someone's enthusiasm or desire to achieve success. "Cool the fire" is another antonym that can be used to imply reducing the intensity of someone's motivation or drive. All these antonyms convey the opposite of building a fire under someone's feet and slowing down progress towards a goal.