INDEX:
1. to say firmly that someone must do something or that something must happen
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ SAY
↑ TELL
↑ MUST/DON'T HAVE TO
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1. to say firmly that someone must do something or that something must happen
▷ insist /ɪnˈsɪst/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
▪ ‘I really need to speak to you now.’ ‘Oh, all right if you insist.’
▪ We hadn’t intended to stay for another drink, but our host insisted.
insist (that)
▪ Mom always insists that we keep our rooms neat.
▪ He was a religious man who insisted his children went to church every Sunday.
insist on
▪ Many workers now insist on a smoke-free environment.
insist on doing something
▪ The man insisted on helping me find a taxi even though I told him I didn’t need any help.
▷ demand /dɪˈmɑːndǁdɪˈmænd/ [transitive verb]
to say very strongly and often angrily that something should be done or given to you :
▪ Parents are demanding greater control over their children’s education.
▪ I caught Alice going through my letters and demanded an immediate explanation.
demand that
▪ State health inspectors have demanded that the city act immediately to clean the water supply.
demand to do something
▪ The guards demanded to see her I.D. before they allowed her in the building.
▪ Daley demanded to know why the police had not been called in to stop the rioting.
▷ put your foot down /ˌpʊt jɔːʳ ˈfʊt ˌdaʊn/ [verb phrase]
to say firmly that someone must not do something or behave in a particular way :
▪ You’d better put your foot down before those kids get completely out of control.
▪ Ed was talking about dropping out of school, but Mom and Dad put their foot down.
▷ be adamant /biː ˈædəmənt/ [verb phrase]
if someone is adamant about something, they say strongly that it must be done or that it is right and no one can persuade them to change their mind :
▪ I didn’t want to go to the party, but he was adamant and we ended up going.
be adamant about
▪ The protesters were adamant about staying and making sure their voices were heard.
be adamant that
▪ The company’s managing director is adamant that there will be no compromise with the unions.
be adamant in your opposition/refusal/desire etc
▪ The district attorney has been adamant in her refusal to pursue the case.
▷ won’t/wouldn’t take no for an answer /ˌwəʊnt, ˌwʊdnt teɪk ˌnəʊ fər ən ˈɑːnsəʳǁ-ˈæn-/ [verb phrase] informal
if someone won’t take no for an answer, they insist that you must do something, even though you have told them that you do not want to do it :
▪ You simply must come to dinner on Saturday - I won’t take no for an answer!
▪ I told him that I didn’t want to go out with him, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
▷ be insistent /biː ɪnˈsɪst ə nt/ [verb phrase]
to say repeatedly and strongly that someone should do something, even though they disagree :
▪ My boss finally got me to take the course - he’s very insistent.
be insistent that
▪ Eric’s parents have been insistent that he and his girlfriend get married.
be insistent on
▪ The principal would be less insistent on kids wearing school uniforms if the school had to pay for them.
▷ at somebody’s insistence /ət somebodyˈs ɪnˈsɪst ə ns/ [adverb]
if you do something at someone’s insistence, you do it because they say you must do it :
▪ Byrd claims he was carrying the gun at his wife’s insistence.
▪ At Stevenson’s insistence, Reynold’s name was kept on the list.
at the insistence of somebody
▪ U.S. troops were finally removed from the country at the insistence of Congress.
▷ won’t/wouldn’t hear of /wəʊnt, wʊdnt ˈhɪər ɒv/ [verb phrase] informal
to insist that someone should not do something, especially because you want to help them in some way :
▪ I’ve offered to pay Simon for fixing my car, but he won’t hear of it.
▪ Jack wouldn’t hear of Debbie going back to work so soon after the baby was born.