To apply pressure or coercion to someone in order to force compliance, confession, or a desired action, often through threats, intimidation, or aggressive persuasion.
2.
USgeneralinformalidiomatic
To subject someone or a group to severe scrutiny, demanding pressure, or punitive measures intended to compel behavior or extract concessions.
Examples:
EN: So he could put the screws on.
ES: Será él quien apretará los tornillos.
EN: That'd really put the screws on us.
ES: - Nos pondrían en un aprieto.
EN: You were in there trying to put the screws on him.
ES: Estabas ahí intimidándoles.
EN: You've got to put the screws on.
ES: Tienes que ponerles los tornillos.
EN: So he could put the screws on.
ES: Será él quien apretará los tornillos.
EN: That'd really put the screws on us.
ES: - Nos pondrían en un aprieto.
EN: What would happen if we put the screws to Ferrar.
ES: ¿Qué ocurriría si le apretásemos los tornillos a Ferrar?
EN: "Go. Before they put the screws on you, before they torture you. "
ES: "Vete antes de que te aprieten las clavijas, antes de que torturen".
EN: He's told every bistro owner in Montmartre: "If anything happens to him, I'll put the screws on you."
ES: si le sucede algo, se nos echará encima.
EN: You guys want to put the screws on, go right ahead.
ES: Si queréis apretarme las tuercas, adelante.
EN: When they're done with the ghetto, they'll put the screws to us.
ES: ¡Tan pronto, como acaben con el Ghetto comenzarán con nosotros!
EN: Now, don't put the screws on me, darling.
ES: No trates de asustarme, querido.
EN: In case they put the screws on Tommy and he sings a little.
ES: En el caso de que Tommy hablara bajo presión.
EN: He's gonna put the screws in.
ES: - ¿Va a presionarte?
EN: Let's put the screws on him.
ES: Presionémosle.
EN: Clain put the screws to me, and promised me hell, so I threw him a bone.
ES: Clain me preguntó dónde estabas. y me prometió tantos problemas que decidí tirarme un farol.
EN: They'll put the screws to him.
ES: Le apretarán los tornillos a él.
EN: You were in there trying to put the screws on him.