force down

force down

1. To compel or physically force someone to swallow something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "force" and "down." This medicine tastes disgusting, but I do want to get better, so I'll force it down. The government has come under fire for ordering prison staff to force food down the hunger strikers' throats.
2. To push someone or something down. A noun or pronoun can be used between "force" and "down." Back when I used to be bigger than my brother, I could force him down with ease—not anymore!
3. To cause someone or something to move downward, such as a plane. A noun or pronoun can be used between "force" and "down." Severe turbulence forced the plane down—it had to make an emergency landing in Phoenix.
See also: down, force
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

force someone or something down

to press or push someone or something downward. I forced him down and slipped the handcuffs on him. The cop forced down the thug and handcuffed him. I forced the dog down and held it there.
See also: down, force

force something down

to force oneself to swallow something. I can't stand sweet potatoes, but I manage to force them down just to keep from making a scene. She forced down the sweet potatoes.
See also: down, force
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

force down

v.
1. To cause someone or something to descend or land by use of force: Engine failure forced down the aircraft. On sighting the hostile helicopter, the soldier engaged it and forced it down.
2. To swallow something that one does not want to swallow: To be polite, I forced down the awful-tasting food. I forced the unpleasant cough syrup down.
See also: down, force
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • force on
  • force on (someone or something)
  • haul into (some place)
  • force in
  • force (something) down (one's) throat
  • force something down someone's throat
  • haul in
  • jam in
  • force (someone or something) into (something)
  • hard power
References in periodicals archive
"The traditional response of abattoirs faced with an uncomfortable period of unexpectedly high cattle prices has been to bear the loss stoically but be alert for the earliest possible opportunity to force down the market and recoup their margins.
Look after your beef suppliers, says NBA
u A man tried to force down a car window to reach a two-year-old boy who was asleep in the back seat, police said yesterday.
Girls snatched in sex attack; BERKSHIRE: Two 14 year olds forced into white van
Husky now has the clamp force down to 250 tons for start-up purposes, although normal production on the Index Machine needs only about 130 tons.
Radically new PET preform machine injects and cools at the same time
Trimming the sales force down from 325 to 240, NCM reaped the savings from the early retirement of 50 employees (including Kennedy) in 1990.
Crunch time for Bert Collins: North Carolina Mutual's CEO is shrewd. But can he inspire the innovations needed to keep his insurance firm competitive?
Conceptually similar to a kitchen compactor, Rocky Flats' 44-ton trash smasher drives a piston with 2,200 tons of compaction force down upon 35-gallon drums containing plastic, glass, and metal wastes.
Nuclear leftovers: waste not, want not
The additional competition to existing Tesco, Texaco and Esso service stations could force down petrol prices in the area, with Asda having a reputation for the lowest forecourt prices in many areas of the UK.
Asda plan for petrol station
Spurs are also keen on Ince and were hoping to force down the price, but now supremo Daniel Levy has competition.
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Back in the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher's Tories said mass unemployment was a price worth paying to force down wages and roll back workers' rights.
Workers' hell; RecordView
The models are being recalled because of a risk that a loose floormat can force down the accelerator.
Toyota recalls 3.8 million vehicles
Or are they, and others, using imports as a tactical tool to reduce cost of their purchases from UK-based processors and to force down the price of UK cattle to levels much lower than they otherwise would be?"
Are imports a 'tactical tool' to cut UK prices? farming