army volunteer

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army volunteer (third-person singular simple present army volunteers, present participle army volunteering, simple past and past participle army volunteered)

1. (idiomatic, rare) To make someone perform a task or duty, especially one they are not prepared or willing to do.
   • 1994, Elaine Yaffe, "Not Just Cupcakes Anymore: A Study of Community Involvement", Phi Delta Kappan, Volume 75, Number 9, May 1994:

     "She 'army volunteered' me," he says. "She said, 'You called; you're on the committee.'"

   • 2000 April 29, Mitch, “Re: (Booklist included) was: Church's view on .... ?”, in uk.religion.christian, Usenet‎:

     It was dreadful. Especially when it was raining -- the whole performance of getting all the plastic hoods off the double buggy, then trying to womanhandle<g> double buggy, shopping, both boys onto the bus. You ended up by 'army volunteering' the passengers behind you.

   • 2009, Wayne Martin, "World beckons for golf croquet whiz BY WAYNE MARTIN", Nelson Mail (Nelson, New Zealand), 27 March 2009:

     Coutts was originally press-ganged into playing the game by one of his former intermediate teachers. Despite some initial scepticism, he eventually became hooked.

     "It was something that I got sort of army-volunteered into but looking back at it now, it's been one of the best things of my life, just because of the experiences and opportunities I've been given," he said.

• army-volunteer

• press into service