Wiktionary
vb. To formally accuse a person of a crime, especially by an ordinary person.
Usage examples of "press charges".
It was like watching Bing Crosby shame the Amboy Dukes by refusing to press charges against one of their warlords accused of spitting on the bells of St.
Even if we get the boats back and Jerry Watkins doesn't press charges against him, I want to scare about ten years off the bastard's life.
They took a few notes and warned Sonny that the victim might want to press charges when he came out of shock, but I had the impression that they considered the case already closed.
We settle with them quietly, and in return for the money they agree to pressure Parrish not to press charges.
I've got to run, Bunker's persuaded me to press charges against that pitiful creature who threw the catsup on my sables when we came out of the clinic thank God it wasn't the chinchilla Mummy would kill me so I'll miss the vernissage for what's his name I can't pronounce it, are you going?
Don't want to press charges on the chap, just out of the hospital and all that.
If MI6 had twisted the arms of the New Zealand authorities into the confiscation of my property, then it was inevitable that sooner or later they would try to press charges against me.
Fielder knew he was in the wrong and couldn't press charges, so he chose to act as though the event never happened.
Especially with Caddrick likely to press charges for assaulting him, for God's sake.