pressed me

USAGE SUMMARY

"pressed me" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone was strongly urging or influencing you to do something. For example: "My boss pressed me to finish the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

He pressed me to stay.

The New York Times

He pressed me.

The New York Times

Another friend, Jessica, pressed me again: You don't like Joni?

The New Yorker

The tango dancer pressed me to accept her fan.

The New Yorker

"You pressed me to sell the team," Shinn wrote.

The New York Times - Magazine

"He pressed me on this a number of times," Mr. Goldberg said.

The New York Times

The more my interviewer pressed me, the more my faith — such as it is — grew strained.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Tim is a quiet fifty-two-year-old with the physique of a bodybuilder — he once bench-pressed me when we were in high school — and tightly cropped gray hair that used to be flame red.

The New Yorker

Nor did anyone press me.

The New York Times

He didn't press me.

The Guardian

"People always press me: 'Isn't there one marker we can use?' No.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pressed me" to convey a sense of persistent urging or influence from someone, particularly when they are trying to get you to do something you are hesitant about.

Common error

Be mindful that "pressed me" implies more than a simple suggestion. If the intent is to convey a gentle recommendation, opt for words like "suggested" or "advised" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pressed me" functions as a verb phrase where "pressed" is the verb in the past tense and "me" is the direct object. Ludwig's examples show it typically describes the action of someone urging or influencing the speaker.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pressed me" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of someone strongly urging or influencing you. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's most prevalent in news and media contexts. While the phrase is generally suitable for various registers, understanding the level of force it conveys is important for accurate communication. Be mindful that choosing alternative phrases, such as "urged me" or "suggested to me", can help to more precisely convey the intended level of influence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pushed me

Indicates a forceful attempt to influence, directly comparable to "pressed me".

urged me

Suggests a strong encouragement, but possibly less forceful than "pressed me".

lobbied me

Suggests persuasion towards a specific goal or viewpoint, similar in strength, slightly different in context.

insisted that I

Implies a firm and unwavering demand, similar in strength to "pressed me".

strongly suggested I

Less forceful than "pressed me", suggesting a recommendation.

encouraged me strongly

Highlights the element of encouragement, potentially softening the forceful aspect of "pressed me".

badgered me

Implies persistent nagging, highlighting repetition rather than force, different from "pressed me".

coerced me

Suggests an element of force or threat, making it a stronger term than "pressed me".

implored me

Indicates a pleading request, which may be less forceful than "pressed me".

advised me strongly

Emphasizes advice, suggesting guidance rather than a demand, and so is less forceful than "pressed me".

FAQs

How can I use "pressed me" in a sentence?

You can use "pressed me" to indicate that someone persistently urged or influenced you to do something. For example, "My manager "pressed me" to accept the new role, even though I was hesitant."

What's a less forceful alternative to "pressed me"?

If you want to express a milder form of influence, consider using alternatives such as "suggested to me" or "recommended to me" instead of "pressed me".

What does it mean when someone "pressed me" for information?

When someone ""pressed me"" for information, it means they persistently asked or urged me to provide it, often despite my reluctance or hesitation.

Is "pressed me" appropriate in formal writing?

"Pressed me" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, although in highly formal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "urged me" or "encouraged me" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.