Meaning of press into service | Babel Free

Definitions

To make someone perform a task or duty, especially one they are not prepared or willing to do; to make something serve a function, especially one it was not designed or intended for.

idiomatic

Examples

“Anyone with basic first-aid training was pressed into service as a triage nurse after the earthquake.”

“In essence, the book gives a step-by-step account of how the author built, modified and developed his own 6-inch Newtonian reflector, pressing into service such materials as old larder shelves, a car halfshaft, pieces of Meccano, and several coffee-jar tops.”

“Even the molds don't have to be expensive — most plastic bins, bowls or drawer dividers can be pressed into service, though silicone molds are readily available.”

“The chances are that you have nearly everything you need to start up your business already somewhere around your home. […] You can press into service a garage, loft, spare bedroom or garden shed for a whole host of business-related takes from holding stock to being a dedicated office space away from the normal hustle of home life.”

CEFR level