starve into

starve (one) into (something)

To starve one of food in order to force one to undergo something or perform some task. The secret police starved the prisoner into confessing. The army laid siege to the walled city, eventually starving it into submission.
See also: starve
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

starve (someone or an animal) into something

to force someone or an animal to do something by starvation. The torturers finally starved the prisoner into telling the battle plans. They starved the water buffalo into a state of weakness.
See also: starve
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (one) could use (something)
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • cooking for one
  • 1FTR