press charges

idiom

: to take legal action against someone : to officially accuse someone of a crime

He was caught shoplifting, but the store owner didn't press charges.

Examples of press charges in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Prosecutors declined to press charges against Mangum for making false allegations. —

Jenna West, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024 Prosecutors at the time declined to press charges against Mangum for the false accusations. —

CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024 The Maricopa County Attorney's Office will not press charges against the couple whose children hosted the Halloween party where 16-year-old Preston Lord was fatally attacked last year. —

Axios Phoenix, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024 Though a grand jury voted to indict Patsy and John for child abuse resulting in death and accessory to a crime in 1998, prosecutors declined to press charges against the couple due to a lack of evidence. —

Jessica Sager, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for press charges

Cite this Entry

Style

“Press charges.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation