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

Michael, who is 58 from Birmingham, says he went to hospital where he was x-rayed and given a tetanus injection, and though he reported it to police he decided not to press charges.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 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

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

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2025

“That rent-a-cop told her he’d press charges if he saw me on the premises again.”

From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm

Related Words

• prosecute