Cave in means collapse inward: part of the shed roof caved in during the storm. Figuratively, it means give in after resisting for a long time: after weeks of objections, the organisers finally caved in. It sounds slightly disapproving: they weren't convinced, they were worn down.
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a roof caves in; cave in to pressure / demands
- Part of the shed roof caved in during the storm.
- The committee refused to cave in to pressure.
- After weeks of objections, the organisers finally caved in.
What changed
First versionIn the end, they caved in their sponsors' demands.
RevisionIn the end, they caved in to their sponsors' demands.
Accept and meet take their object directly: accept their demands. So to gets lost: caved in their demands. But the pressure or demands are introduced by to: caved in to their demands. Without to, it sounds as if they made the demands collapse.
Agree means say yes calmly, without a fight. Cave in means give up under pressure: Dad finally caved in and bought the puppy. Give in is a near synonym and a little more neutral; back down means drop your own demand in an argument.
Your turn
Complete the expression meaning yield to pressure: She refused to cave in ___ their demands.
Show the answer
to — The demands someone yields to are introduced by to: cave in to their demands. On doesn't fit here.
Describe someone who said 'no' for a long time and then finally gave in.
The organisers caved in to requests for a later start after hearing from several schools.
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