Definition
“Spur someone on” is a phrasal verb that means to encourage someone.
For example – “The fans did their best to spur the team on until the final whistle.”
Clip 1
The first clip is David Beckham in his documentary reflecting on how fans used to sing derogatory things about him and his wife. He said it was horrible to see his wife in the crowd because many nasty songs were targeted at her but at the same time, her being in the crowd helped “spur him on” (encourage him) to perform well in his matches.
Clip 2
The second clip is from an episode of NCIS: New Orleans and the three agents are talking about what they do for each other. They Spur each other on (encourage each other), watch each other’s backs (look out for each other) and save each other’s lives. As all good agents should!
Clip 3
This clip is taken from the TV series The Knick. A police officer is stabbed by an African American after the officer suggests to his girlfriend that she could work in a brothel. The officer is taken to The Knick Hospital but later dies. This causes huge anger and racial tension within the community and a group of rioters try to force their way in to attack black patients in the hospital. Thus, the scene with one character saying the police should break up the crowd and the other character responding by saying “The coppers are the ones f*cking spurring them on.” So, the police are actually encouraging the behaviour of the angry mob.