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

Idioms and Phrases

Fix or establish clearly, as in The firefighters finally were able to pin down the source of the odor . [Mid-1900s]

Force someone to give precise information or opinions, as in The reporter pinned down the governor on the issue of conservation measures . [c. 1700]

Example Sentences

Although earlier studies have identified individual steps occurring at the electrodes during ammonia formation, the full sequence of events has remained difficult to pin down.

Read more on Science Daily

But that wasn’t all — Wen tried a second time to jump the barricades that lined the event’s yellow carpet but was pinned down by security, the BBC said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43, had pinned down Beck and tried to kiss her.

Read more on BBC

She attended both services in Ypres and said "they are always really emotional occasions – although it's difficult to pin down the emotion".

Read more on BBC

Like any true artist, she’s doing something far more difficult to pin down, and therefore, inherently interesting.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• cause 
• charge 
• compel 
• demand 
• drag 
• drive 
• impose 
• inflict 
• limit 
• make 
• move 
• oblige 
• order 
• press 
• pressure 
• require 
• restrict 
• urge