verb phrase · neutral
press charges
/prɛs ˈtʃɑːrdʒɪz/PRESS CHARGES
Band 4-5speakingtask2
to make a formal accusation so that someone will be prosecuted
Examples
“Victims sometimes decide not to press charges, which can make prosecution difficult.”
“She refused to press charges against her attacker.”
“If the witness presses charges, the police will open an investigation.”
Band 8 sentence
“Many victims are reluctant to press charges, which complicates efforts to hold offenders accountable.”
Collocations
- press criminal charges
- refuse to press charges
Word family
press verbcharge noun/verbprosecute verb
Common mistakes
make charges→press charges
press a charge→press charges
Say it for a higher band
5make charges→6press a charge→7+press charges
Synonyms
file a complaint
Easily confused
file a complaint
“The victim chose not to press charges despite the evidence.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Crime & Law
Learn it with its set