Force & Obligation: English Vocabulary List

to leave someone no choice but to do something they would not do otherwise

"He forced my hand, so I quit."

"The unexpected resignation of his main competitor forced his hand to reconsider his own business strategy."

to make someone do something by putting them under pressure, especially to get money from them

"They put the squeeze on him."

"The loan sharks began to put the squeeze on the debtor, threatening him with severe consequences."

to reduce or restrain a person's freedom, influence, or authority

"They clipped his wings at work."

"After his repeated insubordination, the manager decided to clip the ambitious employee's wings by assigning him less important tasks."

to place someone in a situation in which they have no choice but to accept one's offer or request

"They had him over a barrel."

"The landlord had the tenants over a barrel by threatening to evict them unless they agreed to a significant rent increase immediately."

to make use of one's power or authority to force someone to work harder or behave better

"The teacher cracked the whip today."

"The drill sergeant cracked the whip, ensuring that the new recruits performed their exercises with maximum effort."

to be placed in a problematic situation to which there is no favorable solution

"I felt boxed into a corner."

"With the deadline approaching and no funding secured, the startup found itself boxed into a corner with few options."

to have no option but to make use of people or things of very poor quality

"We are scraping the barrel now."

"The theater company had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find actors for the small roles."

used to say that one's freedom in action is limited by a rule or law

"My hands are tied here now."

"I understand your frustration, but my hands are tied by the company's strict privacy policy."

to do something without real interest, feeling, or effort

"He just goes through motions."

"She went through the motions at work but felt no real passion for the job anymore."

the feeling or belief that one must do or accomplish something

"He answered the call of duty."

"The brave firefighter answered the call of duty and ran into the burning building to save the child."

to get an advantage from doing something that is forced upon one

"He made a virtue of necessity."

"When the budget was cut, the team made a virtue of necessity and found creative ways to deliver the project on time."

used to say that someone has two options, either accept what has been said or leave it be

"It's my way or the highway."

"The coach made it clear that it was his way or the highway, leaving no room for negotiation with the players on the team."

something that limits or takes away one's freedom to do what one wants

"My job feels like a ball and chain."

"For many, the daily commute to a job they dislike feels like a ball and chain restricting their personal freedom."

a set of instructions from a person in authority concerning what one must do or how to do it

"The employee was given marching orders."

"The general issued clear marching orders to his troops, detailing the exact objectives of the upcoming mission."

offered or provided without any hidden agendas, requirements, or consequences

"He gave her the gift with no strings attached."

"The grant was offered with no strings attached — the organisation could use the funds however it saw fit."