press charges

idiom

: to take legal action against someone : to officially accuse someone of a crime

He was caught shoplifting, but the store owner didn't press charges.

Examples of press charges in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bill, whose author is Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), would allow accusers up to 15 years after an incident occurred to press charges. —Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024

The Justice Department declined to press charges, unlike the charges against former president Donald Trump, who is under criminal indictment for allegedly stealing classified documents. —For Carroll County Times, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2024

Hur decided not to press charges against Biden and Republicans want to know more about how that decision was made. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 17 May 2024

When prosecutors declined to press charges against Yamaguchi, Ito pursued a civil case against him, winning damages in 2019. —Addie Morfoot, Variety, 9 May 2024

The case was closed because the woman did not want to press charges, the affidavit states. —Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 6 May 2024

The commission decided not to press charges against those who removed the bears from the tree. —Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024

The driver declined to press charges against her, though she was fired shortly after. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024

Police reported to the scene but did not make any arrests after Circle in the Square Theatre management opted not to press charges. —Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024