Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
tighten the screws — To increase pressure (esp on someone to do something) • • • Main Entry: ↑tight * * * tighten the screws informal : to put more pressure on someone or something to do something We need to tighten the screws on people who ve been evading the tax. • … Useful english dictionary
tighten the screws on — (someone/something) to make it harder for someone to do something. Government agencies need to tighten the screws on illegal immigrants. We are putting the screws on that country to end its history of helping terrorists. Usage notes: sometimes… … New idioms dictionary
tighten the screws on someone — tighten the screws on (someone/something) to make it harder for someone to do something. Government agencies need to tighten the screws on illegal immigrants. We are putting the screws on that country to end its history of helping terrorists.… … New idioms dictionary
tighten the screws on something — tighten the screws on (someone/something) to make it harder for someone to do something. Government agencies need to tighten the screws on illegal immigrants. We are putting the screws on that country to end its history of helping terrorists.… … New idioms dictionary
tighten the screws — {v. phr.} To try to make someone do something by making it more and more difficult not to do it; apply pressure. * /When many students still missed class after he began giving daily quizzes, the teacher tightened the screws by failing anyone… … Dictionary of American idioms
tighten\ the\ screws — v. phr. To try to make someone do something by making it more and more difficult not to do it; apply pressure. When many students still missed class after he began giving daily quizzes, the teacher tightened the screws by failing anyone absent… … Словарь американских идиом
tighten the screws on (someone) — tighten/turn the screws on (someone) informal put the screws on (someone) to use force or threats to make someone do what you want. The police are turning the screws on drivers who don t wear their seat belts by fining them … New idioms dictionary
tighten the screws on someone — put/tighten/turn/the screws on someone informal phrase to put more pressure on someone to do something, for example by threatening them His creditors were putting the screws on him. Thesaurus: to nag or force someone to do something … Useful english dictionary
turn the screws on (someone) — tighten/turn the screws on (someone) informal put the screws on (someone) to use force or threats to make someone do what you want. The police are turning the screws on drivers who don t wear their seat belts by fining them … New idioms dictionary
put (or turn or tighten) the screw (or screws) on — informal exert strong psychological pressure on. → screw … English new terms dictionary
