2

Do these mean the same?

1 He hurried her to tell them the news.

2 He hurried her into telling them the news.

I heard an opinion that 1 is used when the action is already started. In a sense, the speaker urges someone to finish it. 2 means the speaker urges someone to start an action.

Is it true or not?

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7
  • 1
    I don't think I would use 'hurry' like that at all. "He pestered her to tell them the news" and "He told her to hurry up and get to the point".
    – Weather Vane
    Commented Jul 2, 2023 at 15:46
  • 1
    You may well not use it but one of the usages is mentioned here "oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/…" hurry somebody into doing something
    – user1425
    Commented Jul 2, 2023 at 15:57
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    The Ngram results for hurried her to and hurried her into all seem to refer to urging someone to go somewhere quickly, or carrying them there. I think another verb such as urged her or pressed her would be more suitable here.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Jul 2, 2023 at 15:58
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    dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3192393/… The woman said Riches hurried her to finish her glass of wine
    – user1425
    Commented Jul 2, 2023 at 17:44
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    To me He hurried her into [doing something] suggests Because he was hurrying her so much, she [did something], implying that she wouldn't have done it if she had been thinking straight. (NB Don't forget the @ if you want people to pick up on comments addressed to them!)
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Jul 2, 2023 at 18:18

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2

The first sentence means he tried to get her to tell the news faster. It's unclear if he succeeded, so the sentence is just about the effort.

In the second sentence, the preposition "into" means he succeeded in getting her to tell the news faster.

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