press into service

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

“There is no way to replicate the transportation service provided by more than 7,500 employees,” Stessel said, although he noted a rail-only strike would mean “you could press into service every available bus in the region and take some meaningful steps to keep people moving.”

From Washington Post

NJ Transit warned last week that only about four in 10 rail commuters will be able to get into New York on the extra buses the agency said it would press into service as a contingency plan.

From Washington Times

NJ Transit warned last week that only about four in 10 rail commuters will be able to get into New York on the extra buses the agency said it would press into service as a contingency plan.

From US News

NJ Transit had warned last week that only about four in 10 rail commuters will be able to get into New York on the extra buses the agency said it would press into service as a contingency plan.

From Washington Times

"The numbers say it all. With about 814 million people eligible to vote, India will witness a nine-phase election over a 36-day span covering 930,000 polling stations that will press into service about 1.9 million electronic ballot units - the largest and lengthiest democratic exercise in the world," says .

From BBC

Related Words

• admit
• appoint
• assign
• attract
• call up
• conscript
• employ
• engage
• enroll
• enter
• gather
• hire
• join
• mobilize
• recruit
• serve
• volunteer