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Synonyms

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.

Etymology

Origin of press charges

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sovann Komar’s new management soon made a series of accusations against Sothea and three of the foster parents, and asked prosecutors to press charges.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 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

Believing he was remorseful, Sharon decided not to press charges.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2025

Prosecutors later looked at the evidence and refused to press charges.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2025

“Mama was lucky. The city didn’t want a scandal. They agreed not to press charges if she signed a confidentiality agreement and destroyed all her research.”

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.