Chivvy Someone Into Doing vs. Chivvy Someone To Do
Cambridge directly documents chivvy someone into doing something for encouraging a person to do something they do not want to do, labeling the verb UK informal. The cited entry directly supports into + -ing; it does not establish chivvy + object + to-infinitive as an equivalent pattern.
Use “chivvy someone into doing” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “chivvy someone to do.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| repeatedly urge or pressure someone until an action happens | chivvy + person + into + -ing | use the directly documented construction |
| urge someone without naming a completed persuaded action | chivvy + person / chivvy along | use another documented pattern as context requires |
Quick tests
Pressure-to-action test
Do you mean persistent urging caused the person to take an action?
If yes: Use “chivvy someone into doing.”
If no: If you mean general urging, do not force an action complement.
Caveat: The reviewed source directly supports into + -ing; do not assume “chivvy someone to do” is equivalent.
Examples
They chivvied us into submitting the form early.
The into + -ing pattern expresses persistent pressure leading to an action.
The organizer chivvied the group along.
This uses a different, ordinary phrasal pattern.
They chivvied us to submit the form early.
Better: They chivvied us into submitting the form early.
Use the documented into + -ing construction for this meaning.
Further guidance
Boundary
The cited entry directly supports into + -ing; it does not establish chivvy + object + to-infinitive as an equivalent pattern.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents chivvy someone into doing something for encouraging a person to do something they do not want to do, labeling the verb UK informal.
Decision
Use “chivvy someone into doing” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “chivvy someone to do.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- chivvy — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Direct construction evidence for chivvy someone into doing something