Procrustean bed

A situation or place that someone is forced into, often violently. In Greek mythology, the giant Procrustes would capture people and then stretch or cut off their limbs to make them fit into his bed. This new law creates a Procrustean bed designed to get those people deemed undesirable by the local government to move out of the neighborhood.

a Procrustean bed

something designed to produce conformity by unnatural or violent means.

In Greek mythology, Procrustes was a robber who tied his victims to a bed, either stretching or cutting off their legs in order to to make them fit it.

1998 Spectator Intellectuals often employ their intellects for foolish purposes, forcing facts onto a Procrustean bed of theory.