press charges
idiom
: to take legal action against someone : to officially accuse someone of a crime
He was caught shoplifting, but the store owner didn't press charges.
Examples of press charges in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Johnsons ultimately chose not to press charges out of fear that pursuing the case would expose personal details and put their family’s safety at risk.
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Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
Prosecutors declined to move forward after the woman chose not to press charges, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
—Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2025
An incident report obtained by PEOPLE later that month stated that the other man involved in the fight wanted to press charges against El Moussa at the time.
—Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The female officer did press charges against her husband.
—Ian Wafula For Cnn, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for press charges
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Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
Prosecutors declined to move forward after the woman chose not to press charges, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
—Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2025
An incident report obtained by PEOPLE later that month stated that the other man involved in the fight wanted to press charges against El Moussa at the time.
—Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The female officer did press charges against her husband.
—Ian Wafula For Cnn, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for press charges
Cite this Entry
“Press charges.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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