force the issue
idiom
: to force someone to do something or to make a decision about something
They would never have addressed the problem if that newspaper article hadn't forced the issue.
Examples of force the issue in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even that likely will not be enough to force the issue this spring.
—
Chuck Murr, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Jones went public to try to force the issue, to expedite the process.
—Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Given that there is no onus on them to force the issue and score, Carlo Ancelotti’s team tactics will likely gravitate around absorbing pressure and picking Man City off on the counter.
—Sam Tighe, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Which is why the former president should force the issue as much as possible and demand the 81-year-old Biden face off in at least three 90-minute debates with unbiased moderators.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for force the issue
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Chuck Murr, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Jones went public to try to force the issue, to expedite the process.
—Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Given that there is no onus on them to force the issue and score, Carlo Ancelotti’s team tactics will likely gravitate around absorbing pressure and picking Man City off on the counter.
—Sam Tighe, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Which is why the former president should force the issue as much as possible and demand the 81-year-old Biden face off in at least three 90-minute debates with unbiased moderators.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for force the issue
Cite this Entry
“Force the issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/force%20the%20issue. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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