press gang
Definition
- Noun:
- A group authorized to compel civilians into military or naval service: A "press gang" refers to an official detachment, historically used by the British Royal Navy, with the legal power to seize men and force them to serve as sailors.
- Any group that coerces people into service or participation: By extension, it can describe any group that uses forceful or high-pressure tactics to make people join an activity or organization.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- In the 18th century, a press gang boarded the merchant ship and took half the crew.
- The charity event organizers were so desperate for volunteers they acted like a press gang.
Advanced Usage
- Used as a verb phrase ("to press-gang"): To force or coerce someone into doing something.
- I didn't want to join the committee, but they press-ganged me into it.
- She was press-ganged into helping with the school play.
Variants and Related Words
- To press (verb, historical): The act of forcing someone into naval or military service.
- He was pressed into service aboard a warship.
- Impressment (noun): The historical practice of forcing men into naval service.
- Impressment was a common cause of complaint among sailors.
Synonyms
- Conscription detail: A group enforcing compulsory military service.
- Enforcement squad: A group tasked with compelling compliance.
- Shanghaiers (historical, informal): Those who kidnap men to serve as sailors.
Related Phrases
- To be shanghaied: To be kidnapped or coerced into service, especially on a ship (closely related in meaning and historical context).
- The sailor claimed he had been shanghaied in port.
Related Idioms
- Press into service: To force someone or something to be used for a purpose.
- With so many guests, even the children were pressed into service to help in the kitchen.
Noun
-
a detachment empowered to force civilians to serve in the army or navy
