twist (redirected from twisting off)

twist someone's arm

Fig. to pressure someone. (Fig. on the image of hurting someone until they agree to cooperate.) I had to twist her arm a little, but she agreed. Do I have to twist your arm, or will you cooperate?

See also: arm

twist someone's words (around)

to restate someone's words inaccurately; to misrepresent what someone has said. Stop twisting my words around! Listen to what I am telling you! You are twisting my words again. That is not what I said!

See also: word

twist someone around one's little finger and wind someone around one's little finger

Fig. to manipulate and control someone. Bob really fell for Jane. She can twist him around her little finger. Billy's mother has wound him around her little finger. He's very dependent on her.

See also: around, finger, little

twist something around someone or something

to wrap something around someone or something. Max twisted the wire around Lefty, and totally immobilized him. I twisted the rope around the post and tied a knot.

See also: around

twist something into something

to change or distort something into something else, as if by twisting. Kelly twisted the balloons into the shape of a dog. Ann twisted the silver wires into an earring.

twist something off (of) something and twist something off

to take something off something by twisting. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Fran twisted the top off of the bottle of mineral water and poured it. She twisted off the top.

twist something out of something

to remove something from something by twisting. Flo twisted the cork out of the bottle and smelled the wine. Roger twisted the bulb out of its socket and replaced it with a good one.

See also: out

twist around

to turn around part way at the waist, without moving one's feet or legs. Nancy twisted around to get a better look at who was sitting behind her. I had to twist around to see who was there.

See also: around

twist of fate and turn of fate

Fig. a fateful event; an unanticipated change in a sequence of events. A strange turn of fate brought Fred and his ex-wife together at a New Year's Eve party in Queens.

See also: fate

twist up 

1. to move upward in a twisting path. The smoke twisted up into the sky. As the car twisted up the narrow path, we got a good view of the valley.

2. to become twisted. The rope twisted up and had to be unwound.

See also: up

twist(slowly) in the wind

Fig. to suffer the agony of some humiliation or punishment. (Alludes to an execution by hanging.) I'll seeyou twist in the wind for trying to frustrate this investigation. The prosecutor was determined that Richard would twist slowly in the wind for the crime.

See also: wind

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be bitter and twisted

to be angry and unhappy, usually because you are unable to forget bad things which have happened to you in the past I had a difficult childhood, but there's no point getting all bitter and twisted about it.

See also: and, bitter

drive/send somebody round the twist  (British & Australian informal)

to make someone very angry, especially by continuing to do something annoying This non-stop banging is driving me round the twist. A day with my mother is enough to send anyone round the twist.

See also: drive, round

get your knickers in a twist  (British & Australian informal) also get your knickers in a knot (Australian informal)

to become very upset about something, usually something that is not important Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, let me explain the situation.

See also: get, knickers

leave somebody to twist in the wind  (American)

if someone is left to twist in the wind, they are left in a very difficult situation by the actions of another person The director resigned and left the rest of the department twisting in the wind, waiting to see if the project would continue.

See also: leave, wind

round the twist  (British & Australian informal)

crazy She's completely round the twist - just sits there all day talking to herself. I put the milk in the cupboard and the sugar in the fridge. I think I'm going round the twist.

See also: round

turn/twist the knife

to do or say something unpleasant which makes someone who is already upset feel worse Having made the poor girl cry, he twisted the knife by saying she was weak and unable to cope with pressure.

See also: knife, turn

twist somebody's arm

to persuade someone to do something that they do not want to do He might help us with the painting if you twist his arm. (humorous) 'Have a cream cake?' 'Oh, go on then, if you twist my arm.'

See turn the knife, twist around little finger, leave to twist in the wind

See also: arm

twist/wrap somebody around/round your little finger

to be able to persuade someone to do anything you want, usually because they like you so much He'd do anything you asked him to. You've got him wrapped around your little finger!

See also: around, finger, little

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(leave somebody to) twist in the wind

1. to keep someone waiting for a decision or answer leave somebody hanging Carolyn was left twisting in the wind for about a week, and so were several other people who interviewed for the job.

2. to be forced to exist without support or help Some workers were fired and left to twist in the wind after many years on the job. People know she's ambitious and are afraid she might leave the company twisting in the wind if a better job came along.

See also: wind

twist somebody's arm

to strongly encourage someone to do something they do not want to do If he doesn't want to go, you've just got to twist his arm to get him to do it.

See also: arm

twist the knife also turn the knife

to do or say something to make a situation worse He caused McCarthy to make a fool of himself, and then twisted the knife by asking, “Have you no decency, sir?”

Usage notes: also used in the form a twist of the knife: When discussing the union, even when he starts by saying positive things George can never resist a twist of the knife.

See also: knife