screws
31tighten 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… …
32tighten 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… …
33Put the screws on — apply pressure; intimidate; coerce: put the screws on a debtor …
34put the screws on — Australian Slang apply pressure; intimidate; coerce: put the screws on a debtor …
35construction\ screws — Supervisors, managers, and project planners responsible for ineptly run improvement projects that keep highways and streets torn up much longer than necessary. The construction screws are responsible for this travesty …
36construction\ screws — Supervisors, managers, and project planners responsible for ineptly run improvement projects that keep highways and streets torn up much longer than necessary. The construction screws are responsible for this travesty …
37tighten\ 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… …
38put the screws to — (smb) try to force someone to do or say what you want The police were putting the screws to the criminal to try and get some information …
39put (or turn or tighten) the screw (or screws) on — informal exert strong psychological pressure on. → screw …
40put the screws on — informal you don t pay up and my pal Bruno here will put the screws on you, see? Syn: pressure, put pressure on, coerce, browbeat, use strong arm tactics on, strong arm; hold a gun to someone s head; informal turn the heat on, lean on, bulldoze …