put the screws on

0.01 sec.

put the screws on somebody (informal)

to use force or threats to make someone do what you want

Usage notes: In the past, screws or thumbscrews were devices used to hurt people by crushing their thumbs in order to force them to do something.

They put the screws on him until eventually he was forced to resign. (informal)

See also: put, screw

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In an interview with Politis, published Sunday, the DISY boss said not enough was being done to put the screws on Turkey to soften its hardline stance on key aspects of a Cyprus settlement. Ankara is winning PR battle warns DISY leader by Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Business leaders will tonight put the screws on the chancellor, Alistair Darling, with demands for a broad sweep of tax cuts after forcing a climbdown in a long-running battle over corporation tax reform. Darling retreat prompts CBI to demand cuts in business tax by guardian.co.uk / guardian.co.uk She saw how easily she could upset Marlene and now she's wickedly decided to put the screws on her. Dr Miriam: MIRIAM'S PHOTO CASEBOOK: HERE'S MIRIAM'S VERDICT: KEEP ... by The Mirror (London, England)			put the arm on put the bite on put the blame on put the boot in put the brakes on put the cart before the horse put the cat among the pigeons put the chill on put the clamps on put the clock back put the fear of God in put the fear of God into put the feed bag on put the finger on Put the flags out! put the frighteners on put the heat on put the kibosh on put the knife in put the lid on put the make on put the mockers on put the pedal to the metal put the record straight put the roses in cheeks put the screws on put the seal on put the skids on put the skids under put the squeeze on put thinking cap on put through put through hell put through paces put through the mill put through the wringer put to bed put to bed with a shovel put to death put to rest put to shame put to sleep put to the test put to use put together put too fine a point on put toward put trust in put two and two together put two cents in put two fingers up at			put the into put the into put the into put the into put the into put the kibosh on put the knife in put the kybosh on put the lid on put the lid on put the lid on put the lid on put the lid on it put the lid on it put the lid on it put the make on put the mockers on put the moves on put the moves on put the moves on put the moves on put the nose-bag on put the pedal to the metal Put the Pipe Down put the record straight put the record straight put the record straight put the record straight put the record straight put the roses in cheeks put the screws on put the seal on put the seal on put the seal on put the seal on put the seal on put the seal on put the skids on put the skids on put the skids on put the skids on put the skids on put the skids under put the squeeze on put the stopper on put the stopper on put the stopper on put the tin lid on it put the tin lid on it put the tin lid on it put the touch on put the touch on someone put the wind up put the wind up put the wind up put the wind up put the wind up put their heads together put their heads together put their heads together put their heads together

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