force someone's hand
US /fɔrs ˈsʌm.wʌnz hænd/
UK /fɔrs ˈsʌm.wʌnz hænd/

1.
to make someone do something they do not want to do, or to make them do it sooner than they had intended
:
•
The company's financial difficulties forced their hand, and they had to announce layoffs earlier than planned.
•
I didn't want to confront him, but his constant delays forced my hand.