prevail (up)on (one) to (do something)
prevail (up)on (one) to (do something)
To try to persuade, appeal to, or influence one to do something. We've prevailed upon members of congress to introduce legislation that will protect our citizens' jobs. I will prevail on him to speak at the assembly.
See also: prevail
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
prevail (up)on someone or something (to do something)
to appeal to someone or a group to do something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) I will prevail upon her to attend the meeting. I prevailed on the committee to no avail.
See also: on, prevail
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
prevail on
Successfully persuade or influence, as in They prevailed on me to speak at their annual luncheon. This term uses prevail in the sense of "exert superior force." It replaced prevail with in the mid-1600s.
See also: on, prevail
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
prevail on
or prevail uponv.
To successfully persuade or induce someone to do something: We prevailed on the committee to stop the developers from building a shopping mall. Lobbyists prevailed upon the president to veto the legislation.
See also: on, prevail
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- prevail on
- put pressure on
- high-pressure (one) into (doing something)
- high-pressure into
- pressure (one) into (doing something)
- pressure into
- lay some sweet lines on
- lay some sweet lines on (one)
- cajole (one) out of (something)
- cajole out of