force someone's hand
Make them choose
To force someone's hand is to compel them to act or decide before they're ready, often by creating pressure or circumstances that leave no choice.
The expression comes from card games, where forcing a hand means making an opponent play certain cards prematurely.
The leaked documents forced the CEO's hand—she had to address the scandal publicly.
- compelForce to act
- coerceObtain by intimidation
- cornerMeeting point of edges
- put on the spotForce uncomfortable immediate response
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
twist their arm · confrontation · ultimatum · call the bluff · up the ante · high stakes · choice · strong-arm · engineer · action · catalyze · make a move · pressure · play hardball · scheme · constrain · influence · manipulate
force someone's handlet nature take its course
Allow events to proceed unmanipulated
back off · step back · leave the door open · laissez-faire · non-intervention
force someone's handappeal to logic
Argument using reason
convince · cajole · coax · sweet-talk · negotiate
force someone's handbide one's time
Wait for opportunity
wait it out · be patient · wait and see · hold back · let sleeping dogs lie
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