press (someone or something) into service
press (someone or something) into service
To force, coerce, or pressure someone or something into fulfilling a particular function or purpose. My uncle is an ordained minister, so maybe we can press him into service for our wedding. Our van broke down just ahead of our big road trip, so our tiny sedan had to be pressed into service.
See also: press, service
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
press someone or something into service
to force someone or something to serve or function. I don't think you can press him into service just yet. He isn't trained. I think that in an emergency, we could press this machine into service.
See also: press, service
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
press into service
Force someone or something to perform or function, as in Can I press you into service to help people find their coats? or The funeral drew such a large crowd that more chairs were pressed into service. This idiom transfers press in the sense of "seize and force someone to serve," as seamen once were, to other activities. It was first recorded in 1871.
See also: press, service
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
ˌpress somebody/something into ˈservice
use somebody/something for a purpose that they were not trained or intended for because there is nobody or nothing else available: Every type of boat was pressed into service to rescue passengers from the sinking ferry.This expression originally referred to forcing someone to join the army or navy.See also: press, service, somebody, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- press into service
- press somebody/something into service
- entrap (someone) with (something)
- entrap (someone) in(to) (something) with (something)
- sandbag
- blackmail
- blackmail (someone) into (something)
- blackmail into doing
- entrap
- torture