forzare la mano

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to force the hand”. Compare French forcer la main.

Verb

forzàre la mano (first-person singular present fòrzo la mano, first-person singular past historic forzài la mano, past participle forzàto la mano, auxiliary avére)

1. (idiomatic) to force (someone) to do something against one's will or before the time he had set for oneself; to force someone's hand [with a ‘someone’]
   • 2020 October 4, Federico Rampini, “Trump ricoverato, la regia del presidente dietro all'ottimismo dei bollettini [Trump hospitalized, the President's direction behind the optimism of the bulletins]”, in la Repubblica‎^[1]:

     Pur di proiettare un'immagine positiva e ottimista, il presidente manipola le notizie, costringe i medici a mentire, forza la mano ai propri collaboratori.

     In order to project a positive and optimistic image, the President manipulates the news, forces the doctors to lie, forces the hand of his collaborators.