John wouldn't talk, so the police were putting the heat on him to confess.
•When my boss puts the screws on, he can be very unpleasant.
•The police know how to put the squeeze on.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
put the screws on someone — put the screws on (someone) informal to use force or threats to make someone do what you want. They put the screws on him until eventually he was forced to resign … New idioms dictionary
put 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
put the screws on someone — AND put the heat on someone; put the squeeze on someone tv. to pressure someone; to threaten someone to achieve something. □ He told everything about the plan when they put the screws on him. □ The cops put the squeeze on Harry, and he spilled… … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
put the screws on — (someone) informal to use force or threats to make someone do what you want. They put the screws on him until eventually he was forced to resign … New idioms dictionary
put the squeeze on someone — Go to put he screws on someone … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
put the screws on/to someone or something — put the screws on/to (someone or something) informal : to use force or the threat of force to make (someone or something) do what you want The government is finally putting the screws to an industry that s been evading environmental laws for… … Useful english dictionary
put the screws on/to — (someone or something) informal : to use force or the threat of force to make (someone or something) do what you want The government is finally putting the screws to an industry that s been evading environmental laws for years. • • • Main Entry:… … Useful english 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 (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
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 the screws on — (informal) PRESSURIZE, put pressure on, pressure, coerce, browbeat, use strong arm tactics on; hold a gun to someone s head; informal put the heat on, lean on. → screw * * * phrasal : to exert extreme pressure on put the screws on the small… … Useful english dictionary
