- put (or turn or tighten) the screw (or screws) on
- put (or turn or tighten) the screw (or screws) oninformalexert strong psychological pressure on.→ screw
English new terms dictionary. 2014.
put (or turn or tighten) the screw (or screws) on
Look at other dictionaries:
screw — noun 1》 a short, slender, sharp pointed metal pin with a raised helical thread running around it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated in under pressure. ↘a cylinder with a helical ridge or thread running round the … English new terms 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
screw — [[t]skru[/t]] n. 1) a metal fastener having a tapered shank with a helical thread, and topped with a slotted head, driven into wood or the like by rotating, as with a screwdriver 2) a threaded cylindrical rod, with a head at one end, that engages … From formal English to slang
screw — [skro͞o] n. [ME screwe < MFr escroue, hole in which the screw turns < L scrofa, sow, infl. by scrobis, vulva] 1. a) a mechanical device for fastening things together, consisting essentially of a cylindrical or conical piece of metal… … English World dictionary
screw — screwable, adj. screwer, n. screwless, adj. screwlike, adj. /skrooh/, n. 1. a metal fastener having a tapered shank with a helical thread, and topped with a slotted head, driven into wood or the like by rotating, esp. by means of a screwdriver. 2 … Universalium
screw */ — I UK [skruː] / US [skru] verb Word forms screw : present tense I/you/we/they screw he/she/it screws present participle screwing past tense screwed past participle screwed 1) [transitive] to fasten one thing to another using screws Next screw the… … English dictionary
screw — screw1 [skru:] n [Date: 1400 1500; : Old French; Origin: escroe inner screw, nut , from Latin scrofa female pig ] 1.) a thin pointed piece of metal that you push and turn in order to fasten pieces of metal or wood together →↑nail ▪ Fix the frame… … Dictionary of contemporary English
screw — n. & v. n. 1 a thin cylinder or cone with a spiral ridge or thread running round the outside (male screw) or the inside (female screw). 2 (in full wood screw) a metal male screw with a slotted head and a sharp point for fastening things, esp. in… … Useful english dictionary
screw — 1 noun 1 (C) a thin pointed piece of metal that you push and turn in order to fasten pieces of metal or wood together: Tighten the screws on the plug. 2 (C) slang taboo an act of having sex 3 have a screw loose informal often humorous to be… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
turn 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
