How do you use "Full-court press" in a sentence?

They put a full-court press on the competitor. It's time for a full-court press to meet the deadline. The media launched a full-court press.

Full-court press

Q: What does "Full-court press" mean?

An aggressive all-out effort. From basketball—when defenders press the entire court. Used for any intensive, aggressive campaign or effort.

Slang Term American ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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Meaning: An aggressive all-out effort.

全力以赴的积极努力。

Un esfuerzo agresivo y total.

全力を挙げた攻撃的な取り組み。

전력을 다한 공격적인 노력.

From basketball—when defenders press the entire court. Used for any intensive, aggressive campaign or effort.

源自篮球——防守者在全场紧逼。用于描述任何密集的、积极的活动或努力。

Del baloncesto—cuando los defensores presionan en toda la cancha. Se usa para cualquier campaña o esfuerzo intensivo y agresivo.

バスケットボール由来の表現。ディフェンダーがコート全体でプレスをかけること。集中的で攻撃的なキャンペーンや努力に使われる。

농구에서 유래—수비수가 코트 전체에서 압박하는 전술. 집중적이고 공격적인 캠페인이나 노력에 사용한다.

Literal meaning: Basketball defense covering whole court

Examples

They put a full-court press on the competitor.
他们对竞争对手发起了全面攻势
Lanzaron una ofensiva total contra el competidor
競合に対して全面攻勢をかけた
경쟁사에 대해 전면 공세를 펼쳤다.
It's time for a full-court press to meet the deadline.
是时候全力以赴赶截止日期了
Es hora de un esfuerzo total para cumplir el plazo
締め切りに間に合わせるため全力で取り組む時だ
마감에 맞추기 위해 전력을 다할 때다.
The media launched a full-court press.
媒体发起了全面攻势
Los medios lanzaron una ofensiva total
メディアが総攻撃を仕掛けた
언론이 총공세를 펼쳤다.

Pronunciation

/fʊl kɔːt pres/

Usage Guide

Context: intensity, campaign, effort

Tone: determined, aggressive

✓ Do Say

Full-court press.
全面施压
Ofensiva a toda presión
全力攻勢だ
전면 공세.
Put on a full-court press.
发动了全面攻势
Lanzaron una ofensiva total
総力を挙げて攻めた
전면 공세를 펼치다.
Full-court press campaign.
全面施压的攻势
Campaña de presión total
全面的な攻勢キャンペーン
전면 공세 캠페인.

✗ Don't Say

All-out effort
All-out effort（全力以赴）
All-out effort（esfuerzo total）
All-out effort（全力の努力）
전력을 다한 노력
Intensive campaign
Intensive campaign（密集攻势）
Intensive campaign（campaña intensiva）
Intensive campaign（集中的なキャンペーン）
집중적인 캠페인

Common Mistakes

Basketball term
Very American—less known in UK

Origin & History

From basketball—a full-court press is an aggressive defensive strategy.

Etymology: American basketball slang, mid 20th century

First recorded: 1950s

Cultural Context

Era: 1950s to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal, especially business

Pop culture: Basketball; American politics

Regional notes: American basketball term—less common in British English.

Variations

Full-court pressFull court pressPut on a full-court press