force someone's hand

idiom

: to make it necessary for someone to do something
She'd intended to postpone her decision, but events forced her hand.

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Cite this Entry

“Force someone's hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/force%20someone%27s%20hand. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

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