force one's hand

/fˈɔːs wˈɒnz hˈand/

/fˈoːɹs wˈʌnz hˈænd/

[phrase]

to force one's hand

[PHRASE]

to leave someone no choice but to do something they would not do otherwise

What is the origin of the idiom "force one's hand" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "force one's hand" can be traced back to card games, particularly poker. In poker, players hold their cards close to their chests and strategically decide when to reveal their hand or make a move. However, in certain situations, an opponent's actions or the progression of the game can force a player to reveal their hand prematurely or make a move earlier than desired. This concept of being compelled or pressured to act due to external factors or circumstances in a card game eventually found its way into figurative language.

Examples

1. When you look at something like DACA in September, when Sessions steps up and maybe forces his hand, or maybe he asks Sessions to do it, but do you know about that?

2. Even something as simple as using proper thermal interface material on their CPUs didn't happen until AMD forced their hand.

3. [Will] Forced our hand.

4. So he kind of took the process in many ways out of the hands of the people who were used to controlling it and forced their hand.