press into service

Meaning: (idiomatic)To make someoneperformataskorduty, especially one they are notpreparedorwillingto do; to make somethingserveafunction, especially one it was notdesignedorintendedfor.Anyone with basic first-aid training waspressed into serviceas a triage nurse after the earthquake.1979January 25, Iain Nicolson, book review,New Scientist,page269:In essence, the book gives a step-by-step account of how the author built, modified and developed his own 6-inch Newtonian reflector,pressing into servicesuch materials as old larder shelves, a car halfshaft, pieces of Meccano, and several coffee-jar tops.2010, Robert S. McDaniel, Katherine J. McDaniel,Soap Maker's Workshop: The Art and Craft of Natural Homemade Soap, Krause Publications,→ISBN,page136:Even the molds don't have to be expensive — most plastic bins, bowls or drawer dividers can bepressed into service, though silicone molds are readily available.2011, Colin Barrow,Starting a Business for Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd,→ISBN,page51:The chances are that you have nearly everything you need to start up your business already somewhere around your home.[…]You canpress into servicea garage, loft, spare bedroom or garden shed for a whole host of business-related takes from holding stock to being a dedicated office space away from the normal hustle of home life.

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