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3. press into service

press into service

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press someone or something into service

to force someone or something to serve or function. I don't think you can press him into service just yet. He isn't trained. I think that in an emergency, we could press this machine into service.

See also: press, service

press somebody into service

to persuade or force someone to do something Murphy pressed his sister into service to do the research.

See also: press, service

press something into service

to use something for an unusual purpose A few buses and trucks were pressed into service, but the vast majority of refugees walked.

See also: press, service

press into service

Force someone or something to perform or function, as in Can I press you into service to help people find their coats? or The funeral drew such a large crowd that more chairs were pressed into service. This idiom transfers press in the sense of "seize and force someone to serve," as seamen once were, to other activities. It was first recorded in 1871.

See also: press, service