# bounce into

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bounce-into
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to force or pressure someone into making a quick decision before they are ready.

For teachers: to coerce or maneuver someone into a course of action or a commitment, often by acting with suddenness or without prior consultation.

## Examples

- Don't let them bounce you into signing the contract today.
- The committee felt they had been bounced into a decision by the chairman's sudden announcement.
- The opposition accused the government of trying to bounce the public into accepting the new tax laws without a proper period of debate.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They bounced into him the deal." but "They bounced him into the deal." — the person being pressured must come between the verb and the prepositional particle.

## Usage notes

- usually used in the passive voice or with a direct object representing the person being pressured.
- Teaching tip: this is a British English idiom often used in political or business contexts; it implies a lack of transparency or fair time for consideration.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.