touch off

De León was an active participant in the vile conversation that touched off the scandal.

Little, however, has connected the festivities in Chicago to a basic human need to which the speeches, the music and, yes, the “vibe” touched off within us.

But as the scheduled start date drew closer, the fee had touched off growing backlash — and several lawsuits — from suburban drivers and some local officials who expressed concerns about the impact on commuters.

The remark touched off laughter in the courtroom.

Klaas’ disappearance touched off a nationwide search by thousands of volunteers.