put a gun to someone's head
To compel someone (to do something); to create a situation in which someone has no alternative course of action.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Nobody put a gun to your head to take this job.”
“You do not have to finish the project tonight; nobody put a gun to your head to work this late.”
“While he claimed he was forced into the agreement, no one actually put a gun to his head to sign the contract.”
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another nail in someone's coffin
An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.
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answer someone's prayers
To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
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answer to someone's prayers
Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
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apple of someone's eye
The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.
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bane of someone's existence
Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.
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bang one's head against a brick wall
To waste effort on a futile project.
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bang some heads together
Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.
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bash someone's face in
To beat someone violently.
Last updated August 10, 2026