in force
- be in effect, enforceable
Wiktionary
prep_phrase
- With a substantial number of men capable of exerting force or of making a show of force.
“1977-1980, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure Patrick was a cabbie & a dispatcher at Yellow Cab & when we got to the church where the [funeral] services were being held, the cabbies came out in force for Pat & there were at least 30 cabs pulling into the church parking lot.”
“The police arrived in force at dawn to raid the drug lab.”
- With a substantial display of resources.
“They made the presentation in force to try to impress the client.”
- In effect; applicable.
“Some of the old laws against treason are no longer in force.”