are pressed upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are pressed upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is being urged or compelled to do something, often under pressure. Example: "When deadlines are tight, employees often feel that expectations are pressed upon them from all sides."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Tote bags are pressed upon me.

The New Yorker

A visitor from the North finds that food on toothpicks and drinks in clear plastic cups are pressed upon his person at every turn.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Pamphlets were pressed upon the reporter concerning numerous products or companies; one of them was called Hideaway.

The New Yorker

He'd thrown away the scrap of paper that had been pressed upon him, its sprawl of handwriting unread.

The New Yorker

The kitchen sent out complimentary pumpkin soup and macaroni-and-cheese; a hefty cookbook was pressed upon her; Samuelsson stopped by to grasp her hand.

The New Yorker

Who would want to live in a world which is just not quite fatal?" Yet such a world is pressed upon us.

The New Yorker

This breathtaking combination of requests is pressed upon the court in the name of order, finality, and the rule of law.

The New York Times

Appearance was one of Votaw's "five points of celebrity," which was pressed upon the players to help them increase their exposure, and Votaw said he believed it was unfair that so much attention had been given to one point.

The New York Times - Sports

Some accounts stress that the British and the Americans helped Gowon find the resolve to accept the duty of power being pressed upon him, but it would be presumptuous to attribute a country's salvation to one individual.

The Guardian

The second is a battered trunk that Némirovsky's 12-year-old daughter, Denise Epstein, had been pressed upon to preserve through the war as she and her younger sister were secreted away to avoid their parents' fates.

The New York Times - Arts

Two years on, the ambush in Ganjigal has been examined, reexamined and presented in many different ways, often as an institutional failure and an example of the limits and dangers of the counterinsurgency theory that was pressed upon the troops by Gen. David H. Petraeus and the Pentagon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are pressed upon" to describe situations where someone is strongly encouraged or influenced to accept something, often an idea, responsibility, or object. Be mindful of the subtle implication of imposition.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "are pressed upon" as they can make your writing sound vague or indirect. Consider rephrasing with an active voice to create a more direct and engaging statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are pressed upon" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject is receiving the action of being urged, influenced, or imposed upon. Ludwig examples show its usage in describing how ideas or responsibilities are conveyed to individuals.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are pressed upon" is a grammatically sound and commonly used construction to describe the experience of being urged, influenced, or imposed upon by external forces. As indicated by Ludwig, its neutral-to-formal register makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly news and media. While effective, writers should be mindful of overusing passive voice and consider alternative phrasing for clearer, more impactful statements. Remember to use "are pressed upon" when something is strongly encouraged or influenced to accept something, often an idea, responsibility, or object.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are urged upon

Replaces "pressed" with "urged", emphasizing a strong encouragement rather than force.

are compelled to

Shifts the focus to the resulting obligation, highlighting the feeling of being forced to act.

are influenced by

Highlights the effect of external factors without necessarily implying force or obligation.

are subjected to

Emphasizes the experience of enduring something, often negative, from an external source.

are exposed to

Focuses on the act of being presented with something, whether it is welcome or unwelcome.

are burdened with

Highlights the negative aspect of carrying a responsibility or obligation.

are faced with

Focuses on encountering a challenge or situation that requires a response.

are saddled with

Similar to "burdened with", but with a stronger implication of unwanted responsibility.

are made to

Emphasizes the active role of another party in causing the action.

are encouraged to

Suggests a milder form of influence, focusing on positive motivation.

FAQs

How can I use "are pressed upon" in a sentence?

The phrase "are pressed upon" indicates something is being strongly urged or imposed on someone. For instance, "New responsibilities "are pressed upon" the team after the reorganization" shows how the team is receiving new obligations.

What's a good alternative to "are pressed upon"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "are urged upon", "are influenced by", or "are subjected to" to convey similar meanings while varying the nuance.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "are pressed upon"?

While "are pressed upon" is in the passive voice, consider if an active construction would be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "Ideas are pressed upon the students", you could write "The teacher pressed the ideas upon the students".

What is the difference between "are pressed upon" and "are insisted upon"?

"Are pressed upon" suggests a subtle pressure or imposition, whereas "are insisted upon" implies a more forceful demand or requirement. The choice depends on the degree of coercion you want to convey.