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

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Despite reporting the attack and completing a rape kit, Gettysburg officials and other authorities declined to press charges. —

Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025 Drones messing with firefighting efforts — a federal crime — meant his prosecutors were ready to press charges if necessary. —

Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025 Once police present their report to Brazil’s Supreme Court, the prosecutor general’s office will decide whether to press charges against Bolsonaro and any former aides who are implicated. —

Antonio Planas, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2024 But police documents state the woman does not want to press charges. —

Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for press charges

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“Press charges.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

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