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Glite Dictionary
to force down

to force down

2 7.0
To make someone accept ideas they do not want
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : imponer
  • He was determined to force down the misconceptions that were spreading among the staff.
  • forced down my throat
  • forced prices down
  • tried to force down

And he says even the E Ching which they forced down our throats, it's Chinese borrowed from way back when.

Examples

  • They attempted to force down her opinions during the meeting, but she stood her ground.

  • Theology was forced down our throats.

    Blog text (4)

  • But the issue is, if I have a nutritional theory and I start forcing down your throat food that I think is good for you, right?

  • It is now better understood that a successful stabilization and restructuring package cannot be forced down a country's throat.

    Academic text (1999)

  • The manager tried to force down the team's doubts about the new strategy.

Synonyms

to force
vsto force down
∞ 2.3

To make someone do something by using power or pressure

is narrower, focusing on imposing opinions rather than any compelled action
to impose
vsto force down
271 4.8

Force someone to accept something they do not want

is narrower, describing the act toward beliefs specifically rather than any imposition
to compel
vsto force down
258 4.8

Force someone to do something or make them feel they must

is specifically about making others accept ideas rather than causing actions
to pressure
vsto force down
149 4.2

To try to make someone do something

is stronger, implying actual making someone accept ideas against their will
to brainwash
vsto force down
118 7.3

To make someone accept different beliefs using pressure and tricks

is immediate imposition rather than a long-term, controlled belief change
to coerce
vsto force down
  • Offensive
91 6.4

Force someone to do something by threats

is more about imposing ideas and opinions rather than using threats
to impose on
vsto force down
60 5.5

To force someone to accept something or to ask too much of them

focuses specifically on making beliefs accepted rather than placing rules
to thrust
vsto force down
41 6.7

To force something on someone, often against their will

is similar but focuses on making acceptance rather than the manner of insistence
to indoctrinate
vsto force down
31 8.1

To teach people to accept beliefs without question, often to change how they think

is about forcing acceptance at a moment or situation rather than long teaching
to foist
vsto force down
20 8.4

Force or trick someone into accepting something they do not want

is the broader act of making others accept ideas without trickery
to impel
vsto force down
4 7.2

To make someone feel they must do something, often because of pressure or need

is about making others accept beliefs rather than motivating action
to shove down someone's throat
vsto force down
  • Informal
2 9.1

Force someone to accept an idea they do not want

covers imposing ideas but without the overt rudeness or physical image
to ram down
vsto force down
  • Informal
1 7.9

To force ideas or rules on someone by repeating them against their will

is the wider act of making someone accept ideas, not necessarily repeated
to impose one's beliefs
vsto force down
1 7.2

Force your beliefs on other people who do not want them

is the general imposition of ideas not limited to personal convictions
to ram down someone's throat
vsto force down
  • Informal
1 8.9

Force someone to accept ideas or opinions without their choice

is the general act of making others accept ideas against their will
to force down someone's throat
vsto force down
  • Informal
1 8.3

Make someone accept ideas or opinions they do not want by pressuring them

is the same imposition but described more generally rather than with aggression
to bend someone's will
vsto force down
7.1

Persuade someone to do what you want

is stronger, implying unwanted imposition rather than persuasion

How Forceful

to force down
  • Informal
2 7.0
to impose
271 4.8
to pressure
149 4.2
to persuade
472 2.7
to encourage
∞ 2.3
to suggest
∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

force down infinitive
forced down past
forced down past participle
forcing down present participle
forces down third person singular

Morphology

force + down

The meaning 'to impose or make someone accept' is derivable from 'force' (to make someone do something) combined with a metaphorical/directional use of 'down' (pushing something onto/into someone), so a learner can partly infer the sense. However, the specific collocational meaning (e.g. 'force down one's throat') is figurative and not fully predictable from the literal words, so it requires some exposure.

Etymology

The phrasal verb force down comes from the strong image of using force to push something down a person's throat, like making them swallow food they do not want. So it now means 'to make someone accept ideas or opinions they do not want'.