oblige to do

oblige (one) to (do something)

To compel, bind, or otherwise force one to do something out of a moral or legal obligation. You cannot oblige your employees to put themselves in harm's way. It's simply not the case that pregnancy obliges a couple to get married any longer.

See also: oblige, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

oblige someone to do something

to require someone to do something. You are obliged to arrive on time and enter by the side door. The lateness of the hour obliged Tony to enter by the back door.

See also: oblige, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.