apply pressure — push (physical or metaphorical)
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to push on something physically, or to try to make someone do something by persuading or demanding
Say it like a native
Textbook It is necessary to exert coercive pressure upon the supplier.
Native We need to put pressure on the supplier.
'Exert coercive pressure upon' is heavy; 'put pressure on' is what people actually say.
Pattern: apply pressure (to/on something/someone)
In use
- You need to apply pressure to the cut to stop the bleeding.daily life
- In my opinion, parents shouldn't apply too much pressure on their children to get perfect grades, as it can be unhealthy.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ We applied pressure to make him to agree.
✓ We applied pressure to make him agree.
'Make someone DO' — no 'to' after 'make + person'.
Common collocations
apply / put pressure on— to the wound, on the government, steady, more
Don't confuse it
Do not confuse with 'feel pressure', which means experiencing stress, not causing it.