We didn't know what she was doing until Tom forced her hand.
•We changed our game plan after we forced the other team's hand in the first period.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
force someone's hand — To compel someone • • • Main Entry: ↑hand * * * force someone’s hand phrase to make someone do something that they did not want to do, or to make them do something sooner than they intended to do it Thesaurus: to nag or force someone to do… … Useful english dictionary
force someone's hand — force (someone s) hand to make someone do something before they are ready. Information dug up in the investigation forced the president s hand, and he resigned much sooner than anyone expected … New idioms dictionary
force someone's hand — ► force someone s hand make someone do something. Main Entry: ↑force … English terms dictionary
force someone's hand — If you force someone s hand, you make them do something unwillingly or sooner than planned. The interviewer forced Brad s hand and made him reveal his relocation plans … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
force someone's hand — idi force someone s hand, to compel a person to do or disclose something before he or she is ready to do so … From formal English to slang
force someone's hand — make someone do something. → force … English new terms dictionary
force someone's hand — to make someone do something that they did not want to do, or to make them do something sooner than they intended to do it … English dictionary
force someone's hand — verb Bring about a situation which necessitates an agent to act, often causing a plan to be executed prematurely … Wiktionary
force sb's hand — ► to make someone do something they do not want to do or do something sooner than they had intended: »The changing dynamics of the diamond business are beginning to force the company s hand. Main Entry: ↑force … Financial and business terms
force one's hand — make someone do something sooner than planned I forced his hand and he told me what he planned to do about the new contract for our company … Idioms and examples
hand — [hand] n. [ME < OE, akin to Goth handus < base of hinthan, to seize (hence, basic sense “grasper”) < ? IE base * kent , ? to seize] I 1. the part of the human body attached to the end of the forearm, including the wrist, palm, fingers,… … English World dictionary
