Strong-arm Someone Into Doing vs. Strong-arm Someone To Do
Oxford directly documents strong-arm somebody into doing something for using threats or forceful pressure to make a person act. The cited entry directly supports into + -ing; it does not establish strong-arm + object + to-infinitive as an equivalent pattern for this meaning.
Use “strong-arm someone into doing” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “strong-arm someone to do.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / structure | Pattern | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| force or pressure a person into an action | strong-arm + object + into + -ing | Use the directly documented construction. |
| other uses of “strong-arm” | follow the structure documented for that sense | Keep this guide bounded to the coercive complement. |
| object + to-infinitive as an assumed equivalent | strong-arm + object + to do | Do not infer equal support from the reviewed source. |
Quick tests
Coercion-pattern test
Does the sentence mean pressure or force someone into performing the following action?
If yes: Use “strong-arm + object + into + -ing.”
If no: If “strong-arm” has another role or sense, use the structure appropriate to that sentence.
Caveat: The evidence directly supports the “into + -ing” construction; it does not justify promoting object + to-infinitive as an equivalent pattern.
Examples
They tried to strong-arm the committee into changing the schedule.
The object is followed by “into” plus an -ing form in the documented coercive pattern.
No one should strong-arm staff into signing a document they have not read.
“Into signing” names the action produced by pressure.
For this coercive sense, prefer “strong-arm someone into doing” rather than assuming “strong-arm someone to do” is the parallel complement.
The reviewed evidence directly supports the into + -ing construction.
Further guidance
Boundary
The cited entry directly supports into + -ing; it does not establish strong-arm + object + to-infinitive as an equivalent pattern for this meaning.
Construction
Oxford directly documents strong-arm somebody into doing something for using threats or forceful pressure to make a person act.
Decision
Use “strong-arm someone into doing” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “strong-arm 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.
- strong-arm — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary · Direct construction evidence for strong-arm somebody into doing something