force someone's hand
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Compel someone to act or speak prematurely or against his or her will. For example, He didn't want to decide just then, but the board forced his hand. This expression probably alludes to the hand (the cards) held in a game such as whist or poker, in which a player is compelled to play some card from his hand or to reveal his hand. [Mid-1800s]
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QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"
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IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?
Words nearby force someone's hand
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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