screw (redirected from tighten the screw)

get screwed 

1. Sl. to have sexual intercourse. (Considered a crude usage.) A lot of the college kids on spring break in Florida do nothing but get drunk and get screwed.

2. Sl. to get cheated. I really got screwed on that last deal.

See also: get

have a screw loose and have a loose screw; have got a screw loose

Inf. Fig. to be silly or eccentric. He's sort of strange. I think he's got a loose screw. Yes, he has a screw loose somewhere. He wears a heavy jacket in the middle of summer.

See also: have, loose

put the heat on (someone) and put the screws on (someone); put the squeeze on (someone); put the heat on; put the screws on; put the squeeze on

Sl. to put pressure on someone (to do something); to coerce someone. 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.

See also: heat, put

screw someone or something up

Inf. to interfere with someone or something; to mess up someone or something. Try again and don't screw it up this time. You really screwed up my brother by not being on time.

See also: up

screw someone around

Inf. to harass or bother someone. Don't screw me around, man! I bite back! Max got tired of being screwed around by Lefty.

See also: around

screw someone out of something

Inf. to cheat someone out of something. I think you screwed me out of ten bucks on that deal. Max screwed me out of what was due me.

See also: out

screw someone over

Sl. to give someone a very bad time; to scold someone severely. Those guys really screwed you over. What started it? Don't think you can screw over me and my friends. I won't let you.

screw someone up

Inf. to confuse someone mentally. Please don't screw me up again! You screwed up my train of thought.

See also: up

screw something (on) (to something)

to attach something to something by the use of screws or other threaded fasteners. Screw the bracket onto the wall, will you? Screw on the bracket to the wall.

screw something down

to secure something to the floor or a base by the use of screws. You had better screw these seats down or someone will knock them over. Please screw down the shelf.

screw something into something

to twist something that is threaded into something. I screwed all the screws into the back of the computer and turned it on. Please screw this bracket into the wall.

screw something up

to attach something to a higher place by the use of screws. The bracket holding the shelf up has come loose. Will you please screw it up again? Please screw up this loose bracket.

See also: up

screw around 

1. Inf. to mess around; to waste time. Stop screwing around and get to work! I'm not screwing around, I'm thinking.

2. Inf. to play sexually; to indulge in sexual intercourse. A few couples were screwing around at the party. They say that Ted and Alice are screwing around a lot.

See also: around

screw around with someone or something

Inf. to fiddle with or mess around with someone or something. Andy screwed around with his clock until he broke it. Look, chum! Don't screw around with me!

See also: around

screw off

Inf. to waste time. Stop screwing off and get busy! I'm not screwing off. This is my lunch hour.

screw up 

1. Inf. to mess up. I hope I don't screw up this time. The waiter screwed up again.

2. Inf. a mess; a blunder; utter confusion. (Usually Screw-up.) This is the chef's screw-up, not mine. One more screw-up like that and you're fired.

See also: up

screw up one's courage

Fig. to build up one's courage. I guess I have to screw up my courage and go to the dentist. I spent all morning screwing up my courage to take my driver's test.

See also: courage, up

screwed up

Inf. ruined; messed up. This is a really screwed up schedule. Let's start over again. Your schedule is completely screwed up.

See also: up

screwed, blued, and tattooed 

1. Sl. taken advantage of I got a bad deal. I got screwed, blued, and tattooed. When John bought his wreck of a car, he got screwed, blued, and tattooed.

2. Sl. intoxicated. Who wants to go out and get screwed, blued, and tattooed? All four of them went out and got screwed, blued, and tattooed.

See also: and

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a turn of the screw

an action which makes a bad situation worse, especially in order to force someone to do something Each letter from my bank manager is another turn of the screw.

See also: turn

have your head screwed on (the right way)  (informal)

if someone has their head screwed on the right way, they do not do stupid things Don't worry about Sal, she'll be all right - she's got her head screwed on the right way.

See also: have, head

have a screw loose  (informal)

to be crazy I think that woman has a screw loose - she goes out in her slippers.

See also: have, loose

put the heat on somebody  

1. (British, American & Australian) to try to force or persuade someone to do something (usually + to do sth) Environmental groups are putting the heat on the government to stop pollution from power stations.

2. (American & Australian) if you put the heat on someone who is competing with you, you start to do well so they have to work harder or play better The Dodgers have won three games in a row and are starting to put the heat on the Mets.

See also: heat, put

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 up your courage

to force yourself to be brave and do something that makes you nervous She screwed up her courage and asked to see the manager.

See also: courage, up

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have your head screwed on right also have your head screwed on straight

to have good judgment If you have your head screwed on right, you don't complain when you have to work overtime.

See also: have, head, right

screw around (with somebody) (slang)

1. to annoy someone by wasting their time You'll be sorry if you screw around with Captain Legore.

2. to have sex with someone who is not your regular partner I think I saw the guy that she's been screwing around with.

See also: around

screw around (with something) (slang)

to waste time Stop screwing around and finish your work. They spent the whole morning screwing around with Jeff's motorcycle.

See also: around

screw it (rude)

I do not care what happens or what someone does She didn't want to see the movie, but I thought, screw it, I'm going anyway.

Usage notes: usually used when the speaker is annoyed

screw up (something) also screw something up

to spoil or damage something You couldn't screw up much worse than I did. Somehow the lawyer screwed up my appointment again. This is detailed work, and people screw it up once in a while.

See also: up

screw up (your) courage also pluck up (your) courage

to force yourself to be brave Jimmy screwed up his courage and gave Lisa a heart-shaped box of chocolates on Valentine's Day.

See also: courage, up

screw up somebody also screw somebody up

to confuse or hurt someone She really screwed him up when she left him. Their parents' divorce really screwed up the kids.

See also: up

screw up your face

to make an unpleasant expression with your face “This milk is sour,” she said, screwing up her face.

See also: face, up

screw you (rude)

I am very annoyed by you You don't like it? Well, screw you!

Related vocabulary: up yours

tighten the screws on somebody/something also put the screws on somebody/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 used in the form put the screws to someone or something: The owners could really put the screws to the players.

See also: tighten