press charges

American  

[pres chahr-jiz] / ˈprɛs ˈtʃɑr dʒɪz /

idiom

1. to bring a formal accusation against a person believed to have committed a crime (often used withagainst ).

   The authorities plan to press charges against her for participating in civil disobedience last week.

   He didn't want to press charges, but warned the guy who punched him not to cause any more problems.

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Etymology

Origin of press charges

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, rightly opened a criminal investigation into the matter and subsequently decided to press charges against five reservists.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

"I decided to press charges because this is something that I experienced as a woman, but that we as women experience in our country," she said.

From BBC • Nov. 5, 2025

The reviewer then contacted North Wales Police and social services over safeguarding concerns, and police then came to the family's house to ask if they wanted to press charges against Foden.

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2025

And when Maggie decides to press charges against Hank and tell her story to the press, the fallout unsurprisingly does not seem great enough.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2025

But if you won’t press charges and you won’t confront him, you need to consider the possibility of moving beyond this.

From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher

Related Words

• prosecute