force sb's hand
to make someone do something they do not want to do, or act sooner than they had intended

[TahlilGaran] Advanced Learner's Dictionary ▲

force 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.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

force hand
to force a person to reveal his or her plans/strategies/secrets; to make someone do something sooner than planned; to make someone do something that they do not want to do at that time
Our lawyer forced the hand of the opposing lawyer.

I forced the manager's hand and made him tell me about his plans for our company.

We decided to force the hand of our opponents because we wanted to finish the negotiations quickly.

The man threatened to quit his job so the company decided to force his hand and make him either continue or quit.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms 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.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

force someone's hand
to force a person to reveal his or her plans/strategies/secrets; to make someone do something sooner than planned; to make someone do something that they do not want to do at that time
Our lawyer forced the hand of the opposing lawyer.

I forced the manager's hand and made him tell me about his plans for our company.

We decided to force the hand of our opponents because we wanted to finish the negotiations quickly.

The man threatened to quit his job so the company decided to force his hand and make him either continue or quit.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

force one's hand
v. phr. To make you do something or tell what you will do sooner than planned.
Ben did not want to tell where he was going, but his friend forced his hand.
Mr. Smith planned to keep his land until prices went up, but he had so many doctor bills that it forced his hand.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲