threaten with violence; press relentlessly
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesverb
to threaten (someone's) life; to menace with violence
formalLiteral meaning; emphasizes a direct, often physical, threat to life.
The thug threatened him with a knife, demanding that he hand over his valuables.
In the old society, landlords threatened peasants' lives, leaving them with nowhere to turn.
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This kind of behavior is tantamount to threatening someone's life.
verb
to press relentlessly; to rush; to put extreme pressure on
informalFigurative meaning, very common in spoken language to describe intense time pressure or demands.
This is way too much pressure! How can we finish such a heavy task in just three days!
The boss is pressing relentlessly, demanding that the proposal must be submitted by next Monday.
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As the year-end approaches, the debt collectors are rushing us as if their lives depended on it.
Stop putting so much pressure on me, I need a breather.