force hand

Related to force hand: A Force to Be Reckoned With

force (one's) hand

To push one to do something that one is not inclined to do otherwise. (The phrase alludes to a hand of playing cards.) Dave still hasn't decided where he wants to go to dinner, so I'm going to force his hand—I need to make reservations as soon as possible! I was hoping to play golf today, but the storm forced my hand, so I stayed home instead. The president is trying to force Congress's hand by threatening a veto.
See also: force, hand
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

force someone's hand

to force a person to reveal plans, strategies, or secrets. (Alludes to a handful of cards in card playing.) We didn't know what she was doing until Tom forced her hand. We changed our game plan after we forced the other team's hand in the first period.
See also: force, hand
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

force (someone's) hand

To force to act or speak prematurely or unwillingly.
See also: force, hand
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • (one) could use (something)
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • cooking for one
  • 1FTR
References in periodicals archive
Following preliminary investigation, the the Levies force handed them over to FIA for further investigation.
46 illegal Pakistani immigrants handed to Levies authorities
Quetta -- Iranian security force handed over 47 Pakistani nationals to Levies force at Pak-Iran Borders in Nukundi area of Balochistan district, Levies sources said on Friday.
Iran hands over 47 illegal immigrants
QUETTA: Iranian security force handed over 47 Pakistani nationals to the Levies force at Pakistan-Iran border in Nukundi, Balochistan, Levies sources said on Friday.
Iran hands over illegal immigrants to Pakistan
A security source in Babylon told the correspondent of NINA that the force of the popular crowd in Al-Farisiya region of Jurf al-Sakhr, arrested an armed man carrying explosives, tried to sneak into one of the sites belonging to the popular crowd." He added that the force handed the gunman to the competent authorities."/ End
An armed man who tried to sneak into a site for the popular crowd arrested north of Babylon
The force handed over five missing children to their parents.
Dolphin Squad responded to over 3000 calls of Rescue 15
Citing the city's crime statistics for the current year, the DG Rangers said that only four incidents of extortion were reported this year and the paramilitary force handed over more than 1400 criminals to the police during the present year.
Anti-state entities will not be tolerated: DG Rangers Sindh
Al-Manar website was informed that a police force handed Sheikh Salman the summon request at his houses, without clarifying the reason of the summon.
Bahraini Interior Ministry Summons Wefaq SG Sheikh Ali Salman
CHAGHI -- Iranian security force handed over 62 Pakistani nationals to Levies force at Pak-Iran Borders in Nukundi area of Balochistan district, Levies sources said.
Iran hands over 62 illegal immigrants to Pakistan