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
And without Hutchinson’s pressure, Detroit had to force the issue.
—
Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 27 May 2025
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
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Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 27 May 2025
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
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 10 Jun. 2025.
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