put the screws on

put the screws on (one)

To exert excessive and coercive pressure, force, or threats of violence on one. The bank has really started putting the screws on me ever since I began missing my mortgage payments. I'll send one of my strong men around to him tomorrow to put the screws on him. Then we'll see if he's still so sure he won't sign the contract.

See also: on, put, screw

put the screws on

(someone) Go to put the heat on (someone).

See also: on, put, screw

put the screws on

see under turn up the heat.

See also: on, put, screw

put the screws on

exert strong psychological pressure on someone so as to intimidate them into doing something. informal

See also: on, put, screw

put the ˈscrews on (somebody)

(informal) force somebody to do something, especially by frightening and threatening them: The electricity company is really putting the screws on. We’ve got a week to pay before our supply is cut off!

This idiom refers to thumbscrews (see note above at a turn of the screw).

See also: on, put, screw