full-court press
C1/C2Informal (originating from sports), Figurative, Business, Political
Definition
Meaning
A basketball defensive strategy where the defending team applies pressure over the entire court from the moment the opponent gains possession.
An intense, all-out effort or campaign to pressure, overwhelm, or achieve something, often in business, politics, or any competitive situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term's meaning is metaphoric and strongly implies coordinated, sustained, and aggressive pressure aimed at forcing a mistake or achieving a quick result. In figurative use, it often carries connotations of strategic, planned intensity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily American English in origin and common usage. In British contexts, the basketball-specific meaning is less familiar, but the extended, figurative meaning is understood in business/political circles.
Connotations
In both varieties, the figurative use carries the same connotations of aggressive, sustained effort. In purely UK contexts without the sports background, its vividness might be slightly diminished.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English. In British English, alternatives like 'all-out effort' or 'blitz' might be more common in non-specialist contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to launch a full-court press on [someone/something]to put a full-court press on [someone]to be under a full-court press from [someone]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go full-court press (on something)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The marketing team launched a full-court press to dominate the holiday season.
Academic
The researcher faced a full-court press of criticism after the paper's publication.
Everyday
My parents put on a full-court press to convince me to visit more often.
Technical
The defense switched to a full-court press in the final minutes to force a turnover.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The opposition is planning to full-court press the government on the new policy.
American English
- We need to full-court press this client if we want to close the deal this quarter.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The basketball team used a full-court press to try and win the ball back.
- The company launched a full-court press of advertising to promote their new phone.
- Facing a hostile takeover bid, the board mounted a full-court press, lobbying shareholders and seeking regulatory intervention.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a basketball court. 'Full-court' means from one end to the other. A 'press' is constant pressure. So, pressure everywhere = an intense, all-encompassing effort.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION/PERSUASION IS BASKETBALL. An intense effort is a full-court defensive strategy.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like 'полноразмерный судебный пресс'. The term is idiomatic.
- Do not confuse with 'court' meaning 'tribunal'. It refers to a sports court.
- The closest conceptual translation might be 'массированное давление' or 'тотальный натиск', but it loses the strategic, sports-origin nuance.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'full-court-press' (hyphenated adjective) vs. 'full court press' (noun phrase). Both are accepted, but the hyphenated form is common.
- Using it to mean simply 'a lot of work' rather than a coordinated, *pressuring* campaign.
- Confusing it with a 'half-court press' (a less intense basketball strategy).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'full-court press' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in American English. For example: 'We'll full-court press the legislature on this issue.'
It originated and is most common in American English due to its basketball roots. However, the figurative meaning is understood in other varieties, particularly in business and political contexts.
A 'full-court press' implies a strategic, coordinated, and *aggressive* effort, often designed to pressure an opponent or force a quick outcome. Mere 'hard work' lacks the strategic and pressuring connotations.
Not necessarily. While it implies aggression, it can be neutral or positive, describing a determined, energetic effort towards a goal, like a 'full-court press for charity'.