pin down

verb

1. to force (someone) to make a decision or carry out a promise
2. to define clearly

   he had a vague suspicion that he couldn't quite pin down

3. to confine to a place

   the fallen tree pinned him down

Example Sentences

While that cause may be safely discarded, the correct one is hard to pin down.

From The Daily Beast

I did a little research and now, I mean, yikes, he's the guy that's okay with letting schools forcibly pin down autistic kids.

From The Daily Beast

At one point in the Introduction, the coach opines, “history is hard to pin down.”

From The Daily Beast

But in the current crisis, appropriately enough, the nature of a Cossack remains hard to pin down.

From The Daily Beast

She spent an hour and a half on her bracket strategy, trying to pin down what kind of girl Galavis would be interested in.

From The Daily Beast

By running the pin down into the sand all the way, you can make it look just like a goldpiece lying on the floor of the cave.

From Project Gutenberg

Shake gently and pin down smoothly on a sheet, being careful to stretch and pin each scallop in place.

From Project Gutenberg

Instead, he feinted with his club until he managed to pin down the venomous head.

From Project Gutenberg

Even that sweet green maiden-hair fern might pin down your foot so firmly that it would take a fish's sharp tooth to set you free.

From Project Gutenberg

Cephas brought the rolling-pin down upon the paste again with fierce impetus.

From Project Gutenberg