under pressure

under pressure physics phrase

if a gas or liquid is under pressure, a lot of it is put into a container so that it comes out with force when the container is opened

Thesaurus: physical forces and processes_hyponym

Main entry: pressure

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under ˈpressure idiom

1. if a liquid or a gas is kept under pressure, it is forced into a container so that when the container is opened, the liquid or gas escapes quickly

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Draught beer is pumped out of the barrel under pressure.

2. being forced to do sth

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The director is under increasing pressure to resign.

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The pound came under pressure from foreign currencies today, increasing the chances of a rise in interest rates.

3. made to feel anxious about sth you have to do

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The team performs well under pressure.

Main entry: ↑pressure_idiom