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turn the screw
Language:
en
1.
US
UK
Australia
Canada
general
informal
colloquial
To increase pressure on someone in order to force compliance, confession, or concession; to intensify coercion or interrogation.
To escalate demands or punitive measures to obtain a desired result.
2.
UK
US
general
informal
journalistic
sports
To apply sustained or increasing pressure in a competitive context (for example, in sport or negotiations) so as to dominate or overwhelm an opponent.
To raise the intensity of effort or attack to produce advantage or a breakthrough.
3.
general
neutral
literal
To tighten a screw or similar fastener; to make something more secure by turning a screw.
Examples:
No examples available.
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Sourced from Wiktionary