mounting pressure — increasing pressure (collocation)
collocationC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
a situation where the amount of pressure, stress, or demands is steadily growing, often making it harder to cope or respond.
Say it like a native
Textbook There is a progressively intensifying degree of pressure on the minister.
Native The minister is under mounting pressure.
'Mounting pressure' is the natural news collocation; the spelled-out version is clunky.
Pattern: mounting pressure (on someone/to do something)
In use
- There is mounting pressure on the government to address the rising cost of living.work
- Many students face mounting pressure to achieve high grades, especially as exams approach.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He felt a mounting pressure.
✓ He felt mounting pressure. / He was under mounting pressure.
'Pressure' here is uncountable — no 'a'.
Common collocations
mounting pressure + on/to— on the government, to resign, to act, from voters
Don't confuse it
Unlike 'under pressure' (which means experiencing stress), 'mounting pressure' emphasizes that the stress or demands are increasing, not just present.